Siemens Enhances Passport Infrastructure

MUNICH -- Citizens of the Czech Republic can now apply for passports which contain an electronically stored copy of their passport photo identifying the passport holder without the possibility of error. The information is stored on an RFID chip that is embedded into the passport and protected against unauthorized access or manipulation. Siemens IT Solutions and Services was commissioned to provide the entire IT solution for recording the biometric data and processing it for the production of the new passports and will be operating it for four years. The solution is being prepared to capture an electronic version of the fingerprint in the passport, too.

Czech Republic has currently more than ten million citizens. During the project, applicants' biometric data is being recorded and processed in more than 230 registration centers throughout the country. The centers are equipped by Siemens with more then 600 photobooths with ID readers, digital cameras and, printers and a software solution that is based on the 'Siemens Homeland Security Suite'. In due course the centers will additionally be equipped with fingerprint scanners as the EU regulation requires fingerprints to be implemented into passports as of 1 May 2008. Siemens has also installed a central information system to manage the whole solution as well as a helpdesk for users.

"This is the fourth contract win in a row" said Mirko Panev, security expert at Siemens IT Solutions and Services - Siemens has recently announced that it was also commissioned to provide the biometrics passports for Switzerland, a biometric border control solution for Croatia and a visa system for Ireland.

Siemens AG (NYSE: SI; Frankfurt: SIE)