This mobile biometric authentication solution, based on Daon's IdentityX software, utilizes a smartphone’s front camera to recognize and identify a person’s face. The information is then transferred to a cloud run by KTNET’s data center, which completes the authentication process, eliminating the need for companies to build and manage their own servers and authentication capabilities.

This jointly-developed facial recognition service can be applied to most smartphones equipped with a selfie camera. It holds a competitive edge over high-end biometric technologies such as iris and fingerprint scanning found only on premium smartphones, KTNET said.

In addition to facial identification, BioCA also offers voice and fingerprint recognition capabilities that can be combined to enhance security, it said.

“For example, an app could mandate that users who want to transfer money to an overseas location undergo facial recognition as well as fingerprint scanning,” said a KTNET spokesperson.

In addition to mobile apps, this biometric technology can be applied to other places such as immigration checkpoints at airports, keyless automobiles and property entrances, as well, he added.

BioCA is built on Daon's IdentityX solution which is already in use by international companies including MasterCard, whose “Selfie Pay” app allows users to complete an online payment by showing their face to a smartphone’s camera.

Among others, UK’s AtomBank has also adopted the given biometric solution to introduce a face recognition log-in feature to its mobile app that can replace passwords.

In terms of pricing, KTNET said the service solution’s usage fees differ depending on the type of service and size of the active user pool.

For more information, visit www.BioCA.co.kr.

By Sohn Ji-young (jys@heraldcorp.com)