A Lenovo executive has confirmed that its high-end Moto-branded smartphones of 2016 will sport an embedded fingerprint scanner.
A slew of smartphones were launched in 2015 but only a few of them came with fingerprint scanners or sensors. However, 2016 will see more and more companies launching handsets with the novel technology.
The Samsung Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 Edge, Galaxy Note 5, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, Oppo R7 Plus, OnePlus 2 and more come packed with fingerprint scanners or sensors that brought several benefits to users.
Smartphone owners with a fingerprint scanner equipped handset can unlock their handset without inserting a passcode. The fingerprint scanners allows for faster unlocking of devices in comparison to inserting a passcode. Every human has a unique fingerprint impression, which means that users can be assured that their phones are secured and cannot be used by unauthorized person without their permission.
Fingerprint sensors can also be used conveniently to make purchases in app and online purchases without the need of inserting lengthy passwords.
The popularity of fingerprint scanners is growing rapidly and Lenovo does not want to be left behind. During an interview with Chinese publication Tech Sina, Chen Xudong, the senior VP of Lenovo Group and president of the company's China and APAC regions, was questioned regarding the lack of fingerprint scanners in Motorola smartphones released in 2015.
Chen Xudong claims that he was also surprised with the lack of fingerprint scanners in Motorola devices launched in 2015 but assured that all Moto-branded smartphones launched in 2016 will include embedded fingerprint scanners.
The use of the word "embedded" hints that Moto phones of 2016 will use Qualcomm's ultrasonic scanners, which do not need sensors or buttons and can also be embedded in the smartphone screen.
Chen Xudong also suggests that the company released a number of smartphones in 2015 that cluttered the handset lineup, which confused some customers. In 2016, the company will reduce the number of smartphones launches, which will make it easier for customers to decide on a handset. In total, between Lenovo and Moto, the company plans to launch not more than 15 phones in 2016.
He also confirmed that Moto-branded mobile devices will only include top-end features, while Lenovo's Vibe series will fill the bottom end.
The Lenovo executive also confirmed that none of the Moto-branded phones that will be launched in 2016 will feature a handset with a screen size of about 4.7 inches. The minimum screen size of Moto-branded devices in 2016 will be at least 5 inches.
While many people liked the display of existing Motorola handsets, the company is planning to tweak the design slightly to suit the preference of both eastern and western customers.
Fingerprint scanners are currently found mainly on high-end mobile phones but sensor manufacturer Fingerprint Cards and Synaptics suggests that this is going to change in the near term.
"The market is hot, and the adoption rate across a broader range of products will grow faster now," said Anthony Gioeli, VP of marketing for Synaptics biometrics business unit.
With fingerprint sensors having reduced costs and Google adding native support for it in Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the new technology will likely see deployment on a larger scale and also on low-to-medium priced handsets.
Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns | Flickr
