The ASEDrive IIIe USB Bio KB is a combined biometric smart card keyboard which incorporates the UPEK® TouchChip® TCS2 fingerprint sensor, bringing strong user authentication and password-free logon to PCs. The new solution is the latest addition to Athena's smart card reader family. Ne new product has been developed by Athena Smartcard Solutions. Brought in several languages, ASEDrive IIIe Bio KB smart card keyboards are produced to the highest quality standards. They are thoroughly tested to support all major smart cards in the market. The ASEDrive readers have passed the Microsoft Hardware Quality Labs tests and are eligible for the 'Designed for Windows XP' & "Vista" logos.

    Mike Chaudoin, Director of Standards and Security for UPEK, stated: "We are pleased Athena has selected the UPEK TCS2 TouchChip area sensor to add fingerprint authentication to their ASEDrive IIIe smart card keyboard. The TCS2 uses the same UPEK silicon sensor technology certified by the FBI for FIPS 201 applications, but with a smaller image capture area and lower cost. The UPEK TCS2 was selected over competing silicon sensors for its excellent image quality and for real-world robustness. When user convenience and cost sensitivity combined with high image quality are required, the UPEK TCS2 fingerprint sensor is an excellent choice."

    Even more, the security is further enhanced by the incorporation of the ASEDrive Smart Card reader for multi-factor authentication in this new USB keyboard. The keyboard and smart card reader comply with the PC/SC standards, Windows XP, 2000, and Vista, Linux and MAC. The UPEK TCS2 area sensor is mounted for easy user access and supports Bio API and Precise Biometrics' Match-on-Card technology for strong multi-factor authentication. The ASEDrive IIIe Bio keyboard has flash upgradeability, important in keyboard smart card readers so that future updates to smart card technology will not require the replacement of the keyboard. Combined with Athena's ASECard Crypto smart card and the bio middleware, customers can benefit from the highest security available with 2 or 3 factor authentication for logical access.

    The company is one of the industry's fastest growing vendors, is a leading provider of smart cards, combined keyboards and smart card management systems, tokens, smart card readers,  -- protecting computer networks -- and an innovative supplier of cards and operating systems for banking and GSM. The company's dedicated engineering, sales, and support staff has over 20 years' experience in smart card and security technology including some of the original innovators and developers of Java Card and inventors of key technologies of the MULTOS operating system.

For more information, visit http://www.athena-scs.com.