Survey: U.S. Cell Phone Users Want M-Commerce, Biometrics

The online survey of nearly 500 U.S. cell phone users, which was sponsored by AuthenTec, found that 58 percent of those surveyed would purchase a phone with the m-commerce, wireless banking and biometric security features similar to those available in Asia, and 47 percent would consider switching service providers to obtain the services. Nearly one-third would pay an additional $20-50 more for their new featured phone, according to the survey.

Other survey findings show that U.S. wireless users would replace their wallets and credit cards with their cell phones for a variety of services if they had the ability, including:

• 51% would use cell phones to enter sporting events, trains or subways
• 51% would purchase items from a vending machine with their phones
• 43% would purchase items from a store
• 40% would use cell phones to conduct wireless banking
• 37% would use their cell phones to purchase books or music wirelessly

A majority of the survey respondents also said they wanted biometric fingerprint sensors -- which also are available on phones in Asia -- to provide the added security and convenience to protect their phones and these new services.

Results show:

• 73% want fingerprint sensors to protect their stored contact, music and photo files
• 61% want sensors to protect their purchases at vending machines
• 59% want sensors to protect their wireless book or music purchases
• 53% believe the most important function to protect on a cell phone is wireless banking

Nearly 5 million biometrically enabled m-commerce phones already are in use in Japan and Korea, with new phone models being introduced every few months. Major manufacturers and service providers such as LG Electronics, Samsung, NTT DoCoMo, KTF, and Pantech each provide multiple models of these phones. Users in Asia use phones with m-commerce capabilities that enable them to wave a phone in front of a reader to instantly enter a train or subway, and securely and easily purchase items from thousands of stores or vending machines. Users also can securely purchase music, books and other items via the wireless web.

Fingerprint sensors protect m-commerce on cell phones by enabling only the authorized user to make the transaction. The enrolled user simply swipes his or her finger across the sensor to authenticate the activity. The sensors also protect the phone and its stored files in case the phone is lost or stolen.

"Secure wireless m-commerce is a global phenomenon, with wide interest by consumers in many regions of the world. The survey shows that the security and convenience that biometric m-commerce phones provide have broad appeal, and could be widely adopted in the U.S., as it already is in Asia," said Andy Germano, director of wireless segment marketing for AuthenTec.

AuthenTec, with more than 8 million fingerprint sensors in use today, provides sensors to more than 95 percent of all the biometric cell phones in the world. Along with advanced security, the company's sensors are used for convenience, navigation and personalization.

The survey, conducted in March by independent online service Zoomerang, sampled 463 cell phone users between the ages of 25-55. The survey has a margin of error of 4.5 percent. Copies of the survey results are available by contacting Jim Burke at jim.burke@authentec.com.