A tectonic shift is taking place in the voice-based authentication domain as Cirrus Logic, a long-standing provider of integrated circuits for digital signal processing on portable audio devices and mobile phones, acquires AGNITiO’s KIVOX business unit. That brings proven voice biometrics-based identification and verification technology, along with the scientists, product management and market executives who cultivated it, into the fold of an IC provider known most recently for promoting noise reduction and accurate signal processing on mobile devices. Included in the deal is AGNITiO’s KIVOX Mobile technologies, software development kit and related intellectual properties.

With the acquisition Cirrus Logic is poised to compete for additional business for simple, secure activation and access that is embedded in mobile phones as well as all the devices that comprise the Internet of Things, the Smart Home and Connected Cars. Cirrus Logic has acquired a proven product line for “native” voice-based authentication, meaning that the resources for voice processing and pattern matching will be carried out on the device using templates that are stored locally.

Because AGNITiO is a founding member of the FIDO Alliance it adheres to an approach of steering away from stored credentials and passwords to protecting personally identifiable information and biometric features on devices.

Recently, Sensory announced its TrulySecure technology, which uses multimodal face and voice biometric authentication software, has been certified by the FIDO Alliance. The certification standard is intended to provide a higher level of security protection of user data, safeguarding apps and mobile devices from hackers.

But debate is heating up over authentication solutions that are embedded on mobile devices versus cloud or server-based authentication. Will banks or financial services firms accept on-device authentication as a strong, secure token for such things as payment authorization or to gain access to personal information? Ultimately the marketplace will have its vote and, in this respect, it is good to see a number of high-quality alternatives offering products and services.

Categories: Conversational Intelligence, Intelligent Authentication, Articles

Tags: Agnitio, mobile devices, Cirrus Logic