Gateway Puts Desktop Security at Customers' Fingertips

May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In a move that makes the PC more secure than ever, Gateway today announces a biometrics security offering that bundles its PCs and value-added services with DigitalPersona's U.are.U Pro fingerprint biometric solution.

Gateway becomes the first major PC manufacturer to offer a biometrics authentication solution across its PC product line with DigitalPersona, a Redwood City, Calif.-based leader in fingerprint recognition systems. Combining DigitalPersona's U.are.U Pro with Gateway's bundled services -- such as accidental damage protection, asset tagging and surge protection -- provides a cost-effective solution that safeguards access and protects the hardware.

Targeted at businesses and public sector institutions, the Gateway biometrics security bundle may prove to be critically important in high- security government agencies as an extra layer of PC password protection or in educational campuses concerned about student fraud or distance learning verification.

"In these times of heightened security, customers demand a higher level of protection for their PCs than traditional password-based authentication allows," said Ken Loyd, director of Business Solutions at Gateway. "Gateway teamed up with DigitalPersona because it stood out as enterprise-ready and designed to easily resolve critical authentication issues. By combining the U.are.U sensor with added services like asset tagging and damage protection, Gateway continues to offer high-value, complete solutions for our customers."

U.are.U Pro's end-to-end solution consists of its fingerprint sensor workstation and server software. The product takes passwords and their associated costs and vulnerabilities out of the hands of end-users, replacing them with a fingerprint-derived user identity that can be securely stored in Microsoft Active Directory. U.are.U is supported across Gateway's entire PC product line -- from its 200 series ultra-light notebooks to its E-series business desktop solutions -- and can be purchased separately for existing installations. As the only security product fully integrated with Microsoft Active Directory, U.are.U Pro for Active Directory will also soon be supported by Gateway's server line.

"Gateway is providing industry leadership by being the first major PC manufacturer to offer the U.are.U Pro across its PC product line," said Fabio Righi, CEO of DigitalPersona. "Ultimately, this will allow Gateway to better serve its customers by making authentication more convenient for the end-user, while eliminating the password vulnerabilities that plague PC and network security today."

For more information on the new Gateway biometrics security bundle, call 800-846-2106, visit the company's Web site at http://www.gateway.com/business .

Further information on DigitalPersona is available at www.digitalpersona.com.

Source: Gateway, Inc.