AuthenTec rumored to be cutting off non-Apple customers starting in 2013

Google yesterday issued a statement in which they stated that they will not be killing of apps for Mac and iOS like Snapseed despite having announced their acquisition of Nik Software, the developer behind said programs/apps. Apple on the other hand does not appear to be so generous and according to Korean publication, Etnews, it seems that after acquiring fingerprint technology company AuthenTec back in July, word has it that AuthenTec will be cutting off all their non-Apple customers starting in 2013. This means that companies such as Samsung, HP, Dell, Lenovo and Fujitsu will be left out in the cold and if the reports are to be believed, AuthenTec’s customers are in a panic and are scrambling to find alternate suppliers for their fingerprint scanning needs.

No word on what Apple has planned for AuthenTec’s fingerprint scanning technology, but given a recent SEC filing has indicated that they are looking into “2D fingerprint sensors for use in or with Apple products”, it has been speculated that this might have something to do with Apple’s Passbook feature introduced in iOS 6 where fingerprint scanning could be used to help authenticate the user and prevent fraudulent use in the event that the iOS device has been lost or stolen. No official word from either company at the moment, so we’ll take it with a grain of salt for now and suggest you do the same.

Tyler Lee
Categories: Apple, Computers, Rumors