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Identix' ABIS Facial Recognition Data-Mining Platform Selected to Power National ID Program for Middle Eastern CountryMINNETONKA, Minn. --(Business Wire)-- Jan. 3, 2005 -- Identix Incorporated (Nasdaq:IDNX), the world's leading multi-biometrics technology company, announced today that it has been selected by an unnamed country in the Middle East to supply and integrate Identix' ABIS(TM) biometric data-mining platform and search engines into the Country's National Identification program. ABIS provides a biometric knowledge discovery platform that enables users to harness the powerful identification and security tools encompassed in the unique physical characteristics of each individual that are inherent in biometrics. ABIS integrates Identix' proprietary facial recognition and skin biometric technology in an open and modular architecture, providing heightened accuracy and scalability up to 100 million images, ensuring easy system expansion for users as needs grow. ABIS is easily integrated with existing business applications using XML-based web services, and its image quality control modules help ensure maximum accuracy. Identix tests have demonstrated that the fusion of the Company's proprietary skin technology algorithms with its industry-leading facial recognition technology produces performance results that exceed the accuracy of single fingerprint recognition in one-to-one authentication applications. The Country selected Identix' facial recognition-based ABIS biometric data-mining platform and search engines as the core of its National ID program to assist in national security efforts, as well as to provide a highly accurate, user friendly means of ensuring its citizens receive all the benefits to which they are entitled. The deployment of ABIS is expected to help ensure the integrity of the Country's National ID card issuance process by screening for duplicates and aliases. The powerful data-mining capabilities of ABIS will also be used to enhance the Country's National security and criminal justice objectives by searching against existing databases of facial images for individuals on various wanted, watch and terrorist lists. Several million citizens are expected to be enrolled and participate in the National ID program within the first few years of deployment. Identix began preliminary stage deployment of ABIS for this program in the Company's fiscal 2005 second quarter ending December 31, 2004, with the majority of the work expected to be completed in its fiscal 2005 third quarter ending March 31, 2005. "We are seeing significantly increased opportunities throughout the world for large-scale biometric data-mining capabilities," said Identix President & CEO Dr. Joseph J. Atick. "Countless databases totaling hundreds of millions of biometric images exist across the world today. Nations are realizing at the highest levels of government that the ability to tap into this information can potentially provide a powerful tool towards heightened national security, as well as for regulating critical internal programs. "High levels of accuracy, coupled with rapid response times and extremely robust scalability are must haves for these types of programs," Atick continued. "Identix is the only company to fuse face and skin biometrics into a single powerful offering. We believe this powerful fusion gives ABIS an advantage over any competition in meeting each one of these critical end user requirements. The open and modular architecture of ABIS provides a user friendly and easy to implement solution, which positions Identix very well to benefit from the projected exponential expansion of biometric use in the many programs throughout the world expected to be awarded over the next several years." The integration of Identix' ABIS technology into the Country's National ID program is expected to help ensure the integrity of the Country's National ID card issuance process and enhance the Country's national security and criminal justice objectives in the following ways: -- The automated detection of ID applicant fraud through the one-to-many matching of the submitted photo with those already in the database; -- The verification of the identity of an applicant for National ID renewal through the one-to-one matching of his or her submitted photo with one already in the database; -- The detection of wanted or missing persons through the one-to-many matching of submitted photos against existing databases of facial images for individuals on various wanted, watch and terrorist lists. About Identix ABIS ABIS is Identix' advanced multi-biometric data-mining and search system, designed for end-users and integrators developing large-scale, one-to-many systems, with specific applicability to ID programs such as National ID, Passport and Visa issuance, DMVs, large-scale enterprise employee ID issuance and verification, and other large-scale National security programs. ABIS contains built-in features such as failover protection that are required in an enterprise environment. Its architecture is modular, making it easy for users to expand their system as needs grow. Identix' ABIS also integrates easily with existing business applications using XML-based web services. ABIS incorporates Identix' skin biometric technology into a facial search system. The skin subcomponent utilizes the micro-features of the skin for significantly enhanced accuracy and has clearly distinguished between identical twins in Identix tests. The combination of skin biometrics with a considerably enhanced FaceIt(TM) Feature quality control subcomponent provides uniformly accurate performance across a wide variety of facial image resolutions. Identix' internal tests utilizing FaceIt G6 have demonstrated that for most data image populations - including the databases utilized in the latest US government Facial Recognition Vendor Test (FRVT 2002) - the typical Correct Match Rate (CMR) increases substantially. These tests showed FaceIt G6 performance significantly exceeding the highest levels of performance from the FRVT 2002 results (of which Identix was in the top tier of performance). In addition, Identix tests demonstrated that when photo capture and quality guidelines associated with mug shots and biometric passports from NIST and ICAO are followed, CMR performance was even higher. While fully compatible and extremely accurate with existing databases, Identix believes ABIS offers consistent breakthrough performance for face images meeting the format and quality requirements for biometric travel documents (visa and passports), which are based upon the new face recognition standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Standardization Organization (ISO), and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Identix, FaceIt and ABIS are trademarks or registered trademarks of Identix Incorporated in the United States and other countries. About Identix Incorporated Identix Incorporated (Nasdaq:IDNX) is the world's leading multi-biometric technology company. Identix provides fingerprint, facial and skin biometric technologies, as well as systems, and critical system components that empower the identification of individuals in large-scale ID and ID management programs. The Company's offerings include live scan systems and services for biometric data capture, mobile systems for on-the-spot ID, and backend standards-based modules and software components for biometric matching and data mining. Identix products are used to conduct background checks, speed travel and commerce via secure identification documents, prevent identity fraud in large-scale government and civil ID programs, and control access to secure areas and networks. With a global network of partners, such as leading system integrators, defense prime contractors and OEMs, Identix serves a broad range of markets including government, law enforcement, gaming, finance, travel, transportation, corporate enterprise and healthcare. More information on Identix can be accessed via the Company web site at http://www.identix.com. Statements in this release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements reflecting management's current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. All forward-looking statements are made in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Identix cautions investors that forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those related to the ability of Identix to complete complex product and system deployment and integration on a successful and timely basis and other risks identified in the Company's SEC filings. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. |
