IDEX Biometrics’ dual-interface authentication technology is being featured in a new biometric payment card solution from FEITIAN. The new, contactless biometric payment card is the first such card to clear all of the requirements for China UnionPay certification.

The testing for that certification was carried out by the Bank Card Testing Center (BCTC) in Beijing, which is an accredited third-party testing facility. IDEX’s biometric hardware, software, and algorithms allowed the FEITIAN card to complete a rigorous process to evaluate the card’s security and biometric performance in addition to its overall physical durability. The certification is expected to facilitate the mass adoption of biometric cards, enabling any card issuer to distribute certified UnionPay cards through a collaboration with FEITIAN.

The biometric tech was delivered as part of a longstanding strategic partnership between IDEX and FEITIAN that details an exclusive agreement for the sale of biometric payment cards.

“UnionPay is the highest volume payment card network in the world,” said IDEX Biometrics CEO Vince Graziani. “This certification is the result of over a year’s collaboration between IDEX and FEITIAN and represents a major milestone on the path to global adoption of biometric cards.”

“This validates our decision to choose the IDEX solution and is an important step in our continued cooperation,” added FEITIAN Product VP Yan Yan. “We look forward to the next phase of commercialization for our new and existing customers.”

In August, IDEX and FEITIAN teamed up to deliver an inlay solution for biometric smart card manufacturers. The solution was designed specifically to be used with IDEX’s dual-interface fingerprint sensor. IDEX has since released a TrustedBio line of dual-interface system-on-chip products that negate the need for electrical components in the inlay. That, in turn, will lower the material and financial costs of smart card manufacturing and reduce the amount of time needed to develop and launch new biometric cards.