Apple adds fingerprint sensor to new model iPhone

Apple has added a fingerprint scanner to its latest iPhone model, eschewing the need for password entry for purchases on the company's own iTunes and app stores.

As expected, Apple announced two new iPhones: the iPhone 5S and and a cheaper 5C model at a launch event in California on Tuesday evening.

The fingertip scanner - named Touch ID - is built into the home button of the 5S and uses a laser cut sapphire crystal along with a sensor to take a high-resolution image of a user's fingerprint. The sensor removes the need to activate the device by entering a PIN code.

All fingerprint information is encrypted and the firm has insisted it will never be stored on Apple servers.

While Apple made no claims for the scanner as a secure mechanism for online banking and shopping it will be used to approve sales of music, apps and e-books from its own online stores.

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Comments: (3)

A Finextra member 11 September, 2013, 12:08

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Apple is not a producer of mobile phones ... we know since the first launch of the iPhone/iPad. There is much more to it. Apple consistently is pursuing its strategy simply to "bring our behavior further to a next step" - its Design at its best. With great success. The fingerprint scanner and iBeacon, but also Paypal Beacon and the fact that more than 1 billion mobile phones are compatible with BLT, show on the road. The biggest challenge is certainly "pay on the phone" to make fast, safe and acceptable for all users and retailers/etc.. It´s clear this will take years to work. But the more Apple is doing small steps there, the sooner the day will come when Apple brings all previous features together and we keep the mega solution in your hands. For developers like us it is a fantastic world that opens up, also with iBeacon adn fingerprint, etc. The thing is, that most companies have no imagination of waht else could reach the markets. It has always been the designers and developers who create new behavior - companies are just put it into practice...

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Ketharaman Swaminathan - GTM360 Marketing Solutions - Pune 12 September, 2013, 15:35

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Very soon, most people will be so enamored by the fingerprint scanner on the latest iPhone that they'll shift all their transactions to iTunes. Online banking and shopping will cease to matter.

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A Finextra member 12 September, 2013, 17:10

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I totally agree with You. But the big question will also be whether banks (payment provider, etc) will accept this "fingerprint"-authentication on the smartphone itself as sufficient to perform a transaction (authorization). Apple itself starts this attempt: Instead of entering the password for the iTunes account the fingerprint will be accepted ...this is a big step .. Actually, this is as if VISA / Mastercard etc. would require a fingerprint when paying at a terminal or online.