Athena Introduces ASEDrive IIIe Combo Bio F2, the Ergonomic Smart Card Reader With UPEK TouchChip Fingerprint Sensor for 2-Factor and 3-Factor Authentication

ASEDrive IIIe Combo Bio F2 is the latest addition to Athena's smart card reader family. The reader offers ISO7816 smart card support, Bio API fingerprint sensor support for Match-on-Card functionality, & flash upgradeability in a user friendly and ergonomic package.

Tokyo, November 1 2008- Athena Smartcard Solutions

Athena Smartcard Solutions enhances its advanced bio smart card reader line with the introduction of the ASEDrive IIIe Combo Bio F2, a combined biometric and smart card reader which incorporates Athena's ASEDrive smart card reader technology and UPEK TouchChip TCS2 or TCS1 fingerprint sensor, enabling strong user authentication. The smart card reader complies with the PC/SC standards, Windows 2000, XP and Vista, Linux and MAC. The device is ergonomically shaped to enable easy user access to the card and the UPEK TCS2 or TCS1 area sensor. The reader supports Bio API and Precise Biometrics Match-on-Card technology for strong multi-factor authentication.

All ASEDrive readers have passed the Microsoft Hardware Quality Labs tests and are eligible for the "Designed for Windows XP" & "Vista"logos.

Combined with Athena's ASECard Crypto smart card and the bio middleware, customers can now benefit from high performance 2 or 3 factor authentication coupled with an affordable price.

"We are pleased Athena once more selected the UPEK TCS2 TouchChip area sensor to add fingerprint authentication to their ASEDrive IIIe smart card reader line, stated Mike Chaudoin, Director of Standards and Security for UPEK.. "The TCS2 uses the same UPEK silicon sensor technology certified by the FBI for FIPS 201 applications, but with a smaller image capture area and lower cost. The UPEK TCS2 was selected over competing silicon sensors for its excellent image quality and for real-world robustness. When user convenience and cost sensitivity combined with high image quality are required, the UPEK TCS2 fingerprint sensor is an excellent choice."

About Athena

Athena Smartcard Solutions, one of the industry's fastest growing vendors,  is a leading provider of smart cards, tokens, smart card readers and smart card management systems - protecting computer networks  -  and an innovative supplier of cards and operating systems for banking and GSM. Athena's offices in the US, UK, EMEA, and Asia serve customers worldwide including some of the world's leading banks, manufactures, GSM operators and Government organizations.

Athena's products include contact and dual interface open platform and file system based cryptographic smart cards for Windows Authentication, PIV, CNS/CIE, JICSAP, GSM, and EMV. The Athena ASEDrive line of smart card readers includes high performance USB desktop, internal, keyboard and biometric smart card readers. Athena's cryptographic middleware solutions including the ASECard Crypto Toolkit with support for all major operating systems, and through the Athena CMS, our customers enjoy smart card life-cycle management solutions for contact and contactless cards.

©2008 Athena Smartcard Solutions. All rights reserved. IDProtect, ASEPCOS, ASECard Crypto and the Athena logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Athena Smartcard Solutions. All other product and brand names mentioned in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

For more information, please visit http://www.athena-scs.com

Jochi Fuchs

Athena

Tel: +1 408 914 2808

Email: press@athena-scs.com