MaxID Biometric Devices Add New Identity Management Capabilities and Maintains Low Power Profile

Columbia, MD, January 15, 2009

Eurotech Inc., a leading provider of application-ready embedded computer systems, today announces that MaxID has selected the Catalyst Module, built on the Intel® Atom™ processor and Microsoft Windows Embedded Standard 2009, as the embedded computer for two of its next generation handheld biometric devices. The Catalyst Module delivers the performance that allows MaxID to increase functionality in the BHC-100 and iDLMax devices, performing sophisticated biometric scans such as fingerprint reading, RFID capture and iris scans to successfully identify people and manage assets.

Consuming approximately 3W of power for a typical application, the Eurotech Catalyst Module has the high performance capabilities to make it the best-fit embedded platform for the MaxID multimodal biometric computers, BHC-100 and iDLMax. New capabilities in these small form factor devices, such as iris scanning, require more powerful processing in a low power embedded system. The units are especially applicable for law enforcement, military, and highly mobile users, so long battery life and the ability to perform a hot swap of the battery is a must.

“One of the main reasons we selected the Catalyst Module from Eurotech,” explains Steve Bowen, US Director of Product Engineering at MaxID, “is that it exposed all the capabilities of the Intel Atom chipset in a flexible model, versus being limited by a standard form factor and connector pinout like others on the market. Eurotech also offered a full-featured development kit and excellent support as we built our application.”

“Microsoft is pleased to be working with Eurotech to help OEMs create smart, connected devices that leverage increased functionality and offer enhanced features,” said Valerie Olague, Sr. Partner Marketing Manager for the Windows Embedded Business at Microsoft. “Windows Embedded Standard 2009 features technology that offers connected experiences, enabling the creation of next-generation handheld biometric devices. “

“MaxID is a progressive company, with exciting plans for biometric devices that make the most of the Catalyst Module’s unique capabilities,” explained Greg Nicoloso, CEO of Eurotech Inc. “MaxID can build their applications on top of the Eurotech platform to bring new capabilities into the hands of military, security, and other mobile users in an easy to use package.”

Eurotech Inc is an Associate Member of the Intel Embedded and Communications Alliance, and a six-time winner of the Independent Hardware Vendor Excellence Award from Microsoft.