Zicom brings finger-print based biometric locks

Kolkata, Feb 25: 'Khul ja sim sim!' That is exactly the way your locks will open. Believe it or not, come March, you can actually dump your house keys and use fingers to open door locks.

Mumbai-based Zicom Electronic Security Systems Ltd (ZESSL) will unveil bio-metric fingerprint locks next month that would work on an individual's thumb impression.

Speaking to source, Zicom CEO (Consumer Services) Santanu Chowdhury here today said,'' The finger-print locks will prevent the burglars as no body except the family members, whose finger prints are set in the software, will be able to open the door locks.'' A number of finger prints, three for every individual, would be imbibed in a software. If a family have five members, all their finger prints would be set inside the software.

''In order to make the system foolproof, three finger impressions of each member will be taken,'' he added saying this biometric home security system would be manufactured from the company's factory in China.

Prices of bio-metric locks have declined dramatically in the last three years internationally. '' We have kept the price reasonable aty around Rs 15,000,'' he said.

Bio-metric locks would be able to store as many as 50 thumb impressions and not require any keys. It might be a combination of password as well as the thumb impression or just the thumb impression, he added.

'' The market for such home solutions is estimated at about Rs 200 crore and we have decided to position ZESSL as a home security solutions provider. We will offer a complete range of security solutions soon, including intrusion detection system, gas leakage detection system, and bio-metric locks, he said.

The range would also include 'video door' systems that would allow residents to see who's at the door through camera," said Mr Choudhury.

Recently the company had opened retail outlets for offering home security solutions. 10 such outlets would be increased to 200 by the 2008.

ZESSL, is also into institutional security systems. Zicom manufactures its products under contract manufacturing at Korea, Taiwan and China. The company would soon be entering into a joint venture with the Chinese company.

'' The entire home security solution will cost about Rs 22 per square feet and the link to the control room will be an additional feature that will come at a fixed rental per month,'' he said.

UNI