AuntenTec Will Stop Supplying Fingerprint Sensors To Non-Apple Customers in 2013

According to Korean website etnews.com, fingerprint sensor company AuthenTec has notified many of its customers, including Dell, Lenovo, HP, Fujiitsu and Samsung, that it will stop offering its technology to them as of next year. In July Apple agreed to buy AuthenTec, and it is expected that AuthenTec's board will approve the acquisition in October.

AuthenTec's customers are reported to be in panic as they strive to secure alternative suppliers for the technology that has been seeing growing adoption. However, with AuthenTec holding a considerable amount of intellectual property rights related to this technology, those companies may face difficulty finding suitable alternatives.

Apple has not indicated its exact sphere of interest for the AuthenTec's fingerprint recognition technology, but a number of observers have suggested that Apple is interested in using it in its mobile devices for recognition of users and other purposes.

The technology may also play into Apple’s longer-term efforts at creating mobile payment solution, though the company is reported to be deliberately holding back on its implementation as it explores the potential and competitive landscape. Rumors have indicated that Apple planned to include near field communications in the iPhone 5 to facilitate mobile payments through the new Passbook app, but decided not to pursue the technology in the new iPhone.