A new study says that the conditions are now right to create a strong market for mobile phone embedded biometric security solutions; the current global user base of four million users in 2011 is set to grow to 39 million users by 2015.

London-based Goode Intelligence, information security research and analysis specialist, has published a report “Mobile Phone Biometric Security Analysis and Forecasts 2011-15,” investigating the market for mobile phone biometric security products and services.

Biometric technology in mobile phones has existed for over 10 years but has struggled to establish itself and gain significant adoption rates. The conditions are now right to create a strong market and Goode Intelligence forecasts that the current global base of four million users in 2011 is set to grow to 39 million by 2015.

Goode Intelligence predicts that initial growth will come from two technology groups: Embedded mobile biometrics (EMB), including fingerprint sensors embedded by device manufacturers; and third-factor authentication — mobile biometrics used in combination with multi-modal authentication solutions, in particular voice-based biometrics.

“There are an estimated 13 million mobile devices around the world that are already benefiting from embedded mobile biometrics in the form of fingerprint sensors,” said Alan Goode, author of the report and founder of Goode Intelligence. “A significant number of these are being used in South-East Asia, particularly in Japan where consumers are benefiting from fingerprint-based biometric security to protect NFC payments at the physical point of sale (POS).”

The key drivers behind market growth and the adoption of mobile phone biometric security include:

• Device security protection: Protecting the device against unauthorised access is the biggest driver for mobile phone biometric security. This includes protection both of apps and the data that resides on the device
• Mobile commerce: The growth of mCommerce and the need to effectively secure the ecosystem on the mobile
• NFC (near field communication): The contactless technology that is reaching tipping point could well be a major driver
• Convenient alternative to PINs and password: Swiping a finger on a phone or providing a verbal ‘voiceprint’ can be an easier and far more convenient way to provide authentication than conventional technologies
• As part of a multi-factor authentication solution: With the recent attack on RSA, leading to vulnerabilities being exposed in its SecureID token technology, there is a pressing need for strong and agile authentication solutions – mobile phone-based biometric security can be a viable part of this solution
• Military and law enforcement: A cost-effective method for capturing biometric data and verifying identity in the field