After the 911 terrorist attacks, the US Department of Homeland Security stated that any traveller entering the US would be required to carry an e-Passport. Any visa exempt country had to comply by the 26 October 2006 and the International Aviation Organisation stated that all of its 184 members must comply by 1 April 2010. Over 40 countries including Australia, France, UK, USA, Japan, Singapore, and other countries have all begun to issue e-Passports.
The alliance between SDKK and PCS has developed the following lineup of e-Passport security products:
1. Sentinel-Bio: a new e-Passport multi-wavelength scanner platform with a fingerprint authentication system
2. e-Pass Kiosk: an automatic immigration service stand
3. WAT (Wireless Authentication Terminal): a mobile wireless e-Passport reader for border security
Sentinel-Bio has integrated the Sentinel passport scanner system with a fingerprint reader and fingerprint authentication engine that has been developed by SDKK. This enables an existing passport control service facility to handle any e-Passport. SDKK believes that Sentinel-Bio will be one of the most economical, efficient, and flexible solutions for the e-Passport control system, to meet the new anti-terrorist immigration laws worldwide.
e-Pass Kiosk in a one-stop automated system designed to reduce processing times and eliminate the long waiting lines which have become a feature at immigration service counters. A visitor will place their e-Passport on e-Pass Kiosk, which will then verify the e-Passport and the owner's fingerprint to complete the immigration procedure upon the visitor's entry and exit. The unit configuration of e-Pass Kiosk is flexible to fit into a small corridor near the immigration counter. e-Pass Kiosk can be operated as an e-Passport reader while reducing the time consuming process that visitors often experience at crowded international airports.
Wireless Authentication Terminal ("WAT") is a PDA based mini Automatic Fingerprint Identification System that uses leading 1-to-many identification technology developed by SDKK. WAT can perform part of the passport control process by searching a checklist via the Internet at any small regional airport or seaport where a permanent service counter is uneconomic or impracticable to install. For example, Japan has 128 major seaports and 942 regional seaports. In total there are 1,072 seaports that are required to have immigration service facilities. The WAT could be installed at any of these locations.
Immigration authorities also need to control illegal foreign workers. WAT can be used as a mobile system to verifying passports and workers' ID cards. SDKK believes that there are numerous further applications for WAT.
SDKK and PCS will officially announce the launch of Sentinel-Bio, e-Passport Kiosk and WAT in Autumn 2007, at Biometrics Consortium Conference & Exhibition 2007 (11-13 September) in Baltimore, USA and Biometrics Conference & Exhibition 2007 (18-19 October) in London, UK. SDKK is establishing local entities in the US, the UK, and the South East Asia to offer RFID chips and multi-functional advising service on e-Passport system.