Another new smartphone from Xiaomi is using Fingerprint Cards technology for user authentication.
Not to be confused with the HiSense A1, which also uses an FPC sensor, the Xiaomi Mi A1 features an FPC1035 sensor model. News of its integration comes only about a week after the announcement of two other Xiaomi device integrations, with the company’s Mi Mix 2 and Mi Note 3 both featuring other FPC sensor models.
That all points to a recovering mobile business on FPC’s part after a turbulent first half of the year, but it also belies the new challenges that the company is now facing in the mobile biometrics market. Part of the problem stems from Apple’s recent announcement of a new iPhone that uses facial recognition instead of fingerprint scanning for user authentication, a development that has chilled interest in fingerprint sensors among FPC’s partners, according to a revised revenue forecast from the company. Another issue is that smartphone makers are increasingly opting for cheaper, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor models, which is putting downward pressure on FPC’s revenues.
For its part, the Xiaomi Mi A1 is one of these devices featuring a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and it went on sale in India today.
Sources: Fingerprint Cards, The Indian Express, The Economic Times
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