BIO-key Receives Homeland Security-Funded Contract to Deploy Interoperable Mobile Data Solution in Madison County, Kentucky
Law Enforcement, Fire & EMS will have immediate access to mission-critical information and secure wireless communications via BIO-key’s MobileCOP™ and Rescue™ wireless mobile solutions
Wall, N.J. – September 20, 2005 – BIO-key International Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: BKYI), a leader in finger-based biometric identification and wireless public safety solutions, today announced the award of a contract to outfit public safety vehicles in Richmond, Kentucky and surrounding agencies with its wireless mobile data solutions. The contract also provides for the integration of BIO-key’s mobile products with the county’s computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems and an in-vehicle mapping system.
The fully-integrated BIO-key solution will give officers and first responders unparalleled access to information that will both improve public safety and increase their efficiency. With the new system, officers will have immediate access to the National Crime Information Center and DMV databases for stolen vehicle reports, information on warrants and wanted persons.
Fire command vehicles and apparatus will also be equipped with BIO-key’s mobile data solution, providing secure communications within the department as well as with police for coordination in a joint response. Both police and fire mobile users will receive silent CAD dispatches and access in-vehicle maps via the BIO-key system.
The Kentucky State Police (KSP), a BIO-key MobileCOP customer, will serve as the host for the county-wide deployment. In an initiative to extend secure, interoperable communications between the state and other local agencies, KSP has agreed to host any department that wishes to deploy the BIO-key mobile data system. Departments choosing to participate with KSP will benefit from having fully-interoperable and secure communications between each other and the State Police.
“Having the State Police host our system is a tremendous benefit,” says David Evans, City Manager of Richmond. “From a public safety point of view, silent and secure messaging between the state and local agencies is critical for a coordinated response to an incident. And from a practical perspective, the state is well equipped to maintain and support the system.”
“The Department of Homeland Security is funding programs that improve communications and data sharing between state and local governments,” says Michael DePasquale, CEO of BIO-key. “We are excited to see Kentucky State Police come alongside cities such as Richmond and surrounding departments to provide assistance in getting the most out of the federal dollars available.”
The wireless infrastructure and implementation services for this project are provided by Independence Communications Inc., a BIO-key partner, and the mobile mapping integration is from MapSync of Lexington, Kentucky.
About BIO-key
BIO-key develops and delivers advanced identification solutions and information services to law enforcement departments, public safety agencies, government and private sector customers. BIO-key's mobile wireless technology provides first responders with critical, reliable, real-time data and images from local, state and national databases. BIO-key's high-performance, scalable, cost-effective and easy-to-deploy biometric finger identification technology accurately identifies and authenticates users of wireless and enterprise data to improve security, convenience and privacy and to reduce identity theft. Over 2,500 police, fire and emergency services departments in North America use BIO-key solutions, making BIO-key the leading supplier of mobile and wireless solutions for public safety worldwide. (http://www.bio-key.com)
BIO-key Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected on the basis of these statements. The words "estimate," "project," "intends," "expects," "believes" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For a more complete description of these and other risk factors that may affect the future performance of BIO-key International, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company also undertakes no obligation to disclose any revision to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
For more information contact:
Julie Garand
508-460-4036
julie.garand@bio-key.com
