Northrop Grumman Information Technology and Identix Selected to Participate In Testing and Evaluation for Fingerprint Biometric Smart Cards For Defens

Northrop Grumman Information Technology and Identix Selected to Participate In Testing and Evaluation for Fingerprint Biometric Smart Cards For Defens

MINNETONKA, Minn., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/–Identix Incorporated (Nasdaq: IDNX) and Northrop Grumman Information Technology (IT) announced today that the two companies have delivered to the Department of Defense (DoD) technical demonstrations to test and evaluate biometric technology as an added layer of security for the DoD’s new department-wide Common Access Card. Northrop Grumman IT is a division of Northrop Grumman Corporation, the $18 billion global aerospace and defense company.

The DoD’s “Common Access Card” (CAC) is intended to be the standard identification card for all active-duty military personnel, Selected Reserve and National Guard, as well as the Department’s civilian employees and eligible contractors. The CAC is a smart card with an embedded computer chip that will be used to enable authenticated and authorized physical access to installations, buildings, and controlled spaces. Additionally, the CAC will provide authenticated and authorized access to military computer networks and systems. Over 800,000 cards have been issued to date, with distribution expected to exceed four million in the next two years.

Northrop Grumman IT and Identix have been asked to integrate fingerprint biometrics into a standard offering for testing and evaluation for the federal government’s smart ID card platform. According to recent DoD request for proposals, the Department of Defense has deemed the use of minutia-based fingerprint biometrics as the standard for military and federal civilian smart card ID badges. During the course of the technical demonstrations, Northrop Grumman IT and Identix integrated and documented several scenarios for authenticating individuals with intelligent smart cards, including template and match on card (TOC and MOC).

DoD continues to test and evaluate the solutions that have been delivered. The nature and extent of continued work is expected to be determined by DoD in November.

Bob Wilberger, director, Smart Card Solutions for Northrop Grumman IT, said, “Having a Defense Department and GSA standard protocol for integrating biometrics and smart cards should go a long way to speeding the deployment of this much needed technology throughout government and corporate entities. Identix brings their biometric technology expertise into this solution and we look forward to working with them.”

“We see a clear correlation between the results of the technical demonstrations and meeting the demand for smart IDs in a variety of homeland security applications,” said Identix President and CEO Dr. Joseph J. Atick. “We look forward to working closely with Northrop Grumman IT to enhance the security and functionality of its Smart ID cards and to provide solutions for government and corporate entities alike.”

About Northrup Grumman

Northrop Grumman IT is a premier provider of advanced IT solutions, engineering and business services for government and commercial clients. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, the company’s expertise spans such areas as information systems integration; command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR); enterprise hardware and software solutions; training and simulation; base and range support; signals intelligence; space systems; health informatics; and specialized scientific, engineering and technical services. For more information about Northrop Grumman IT, visit the company’s Web site at http://www.northropgrummanit.com.

About Identix Incorporated

Identix Incorporated (Nasdaq: IDNX), recently merged with Visionics Corporation, is the world’s leading multi-biometric security technology company. The company’s broad range of fingerprint and facial recognition technology offerings empower the identification of individuals who wish to gain access to information or facilities, conduct transactions and obtain IDs. Additionally, the company’s products and solution offerings can help identify those who perpetrate fraud and otherwise pose a threat to public safety. Identix’ products serve a broad range of industries and market segments–most notably, government and law enforcement, aviation, financial, healthcare and corporate enterprise. In addition, the company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Identix Public Sector, Inc. (IPS) provides project management and facilities engineering services to the government sector.

More information on Identix can be accessed via the Company web site at http://www.identix.com.

The statements in this release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that reflect the Company’s current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. Such 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 any forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with or arising out of or related to: integration of the two companies following the merger with Visionics Corporation, development of the marketplace for biometrics solutions; demand for Identix’ products and services; the ability of the Identix’ alliances to succeed and in particular, the ability of Identix to complete product development, successfully manufacture its products in volume and broadly disseminate its products; increasing levels of competition; availability of funding from government and commercial customers; and other risks as identified in the Identix’ SEC filings. Identix disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

For further information, please contact: media, Frances Zelazny, +1-201-332-9213, frances.zelazny@identix.com; or Meir Kahtan, +1-212-699-6065, mkahtan@rcn.com; or investors, Damon Wright, +1-952-979-8485, damon.wright@identix.com, all for Identix Incorporated.