BARCELONA, Spain – Feb. 15, 2010 – AuthenTec (NASDAQ: AUTH) and Jabil Circuit, Inc. (NYSE: JBL) have executed a joint development agreement to deliver next-generation technology solutions to the mobile phone market. Jabil is one of the world’s largest electronic manufacturing services (EMS) companies and a leading vertically integrated mobility solutions provider, and AuthenTec is the world’s leading provider of smart fingerprint sensors and solutions. The two companies have combined their expertise to dramatically reduce integration time for OEMs that are incorporating AuthenTec’s fingerprint sensor technology into their mobile phone products.
The first Jabil | Green Point and AuthenTec mobile solution is the Smart Navi-Key™. The Smart Navi-Key combines AuthenTec’s smart sensor technology with a Sunarrow durable keymat in an all-in-one keypad built by Jabil | Green Point. It can be easily integrated into smart phones, PDAs and a range of other mobile devices. Jabil and AuthenTec are demonstrating this advanced new technology solution here at Mobile World Congress in hall 2, stand H59.
“We believe that the unique Smart Navi-Key really hits the sweet spot for today’s smartphone designers, incorporating the best features of user input control, security and personalization into a cost-effective platform that provides differentiation in a very crowded market,” said Arif Shahab, business unit director Key Components, Jabil | Green Point. “Our partnership with fingerprint sensor market leader AuthenTec has allowed us to create a winning design that will dramatically cut development costs, significantly reduce time to market for OEMs and give consumers the superior functionality they want.”
“The Smart Navi-Key is an ideal keypad solution for any OEM or carrier seeking to create a richly featured and highly differentiated smart phone that stands out from the crowd,” said Art Stewart, AuthenTec vice president, Mobile Systems. “The Smart Navi-Key is the culmination of expertise from technology leaders Jabil and Sunarrow, and is the direct result of OEM demand for an easy-to-integrate yet customizable, personalizable solution for their products.”
The Smart Navi-Key features AuthenTec’s AES1711 fingerprint sensor, which provides multiple input control functions to replace popular single-use mobile phone components such as optical joysticks, trackballs, directional pads, scroll wheels and touchpads. It also incorporates one-touch fingerprint security, and data privacy, as well as personalization functions that allow users to set up fingerprint hot keys for launching favorite applications, websites or phone and email contacts. The Sunarrow keymat provides a durable and resilient QWERTY keypad that helps protect the Smart Navi-Key from dust and moisture intrusion. Sunarrow’s innovative and highly functional keymats and keysheets are integrated into mobile phones from the world’s leading manufacturers.
In addition to developing technology solutions such as the Smart Navi-Key product, AuthenTec and Jabil plan to collaborate with global mobile phone OEMs to create custom solutions tailored to their specific needs and expand these solutions to include future AuthenTec technologies.
About Jabil
Jabil is an electronic product solutions company providing comprehensive electronics design, manufacturing and product management services to global electronics and technology companies. Jabil helps bring electronics products to the market faster and more cost effectively by providing complete product supply chain management around the world. With approximately 85,000 employees and facilities in 22 countries, Jabil provides comprehensive, individualized-focused solutions to customers in a broad range of industries. Jabil common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “JBL”. Further information is available on the company’s website: jabil.com.
About AuthenTec
AuthenTec brings multiple touch-powered features including navigation, personalization, convenience and security to nearly 50 million PCs and peripherals, cell phones and other products. The Company’s newest generation of smart sensors, software and TrueSuite™ client applications give users secure one-touch access to their favorite websites, online social networks and digital identity. AuthenTec has the broadest product and patent portfolio in the industry today, and helps enable the Power of Touch® for millions of people at home, at work or on the move. For more information, visit www.authentec.com or follow the company at twitter/com/authtentecnews.
About Sunarrow
Sunarrow develops and manufactures keymats for handheld electronics, including mobile phone applications. The company operates highly vertically integrated turn key manufacturing capability in house, continuously improving operational and quality management. Building on its world-class technological innovations, Sunarrow offers its customers high quality, technically advanced products. For more information, visit www.sunarrow.co.jp.
