Android M, Google's upcoming mobile operating system, is expected to include native fingerprint authentication support, which will allow a user to log in to supported applications without the need of entering a password.
Google is speculated to announce the fingerprint authentication feature for Android M at the upcoming Google I/O, the company's annual developer conference, taking place in San Francisco on May 28 and May 29.
The fingerprint scanner is believed to have been in Google's pipeline for quite some time as the company planned that its Nexus 6, launched in October 2014, would be the first to tout the feature. However, the Nexus 6 was released sans the much-rumored fingerprint scanner support in tow.
Even if Android M comes with the fingerprint authentication feature, no current Google smartphones that offer support for the new feature are available. Smartphone users will have to wait until Google and other smartphone makers launch compatible devices or Google launches a compatible handset along with Android M.
Reports suggest that fingerprint scanning will bypass password authentication even for Play Store transactions and Google Wallet.
A native fingerprint authentication support for Android devices is inevitable in the near term. However, users will be able to take advantage of the feature only when it becomes common place such as a camera for instance.
With the advent of fingerprint scanning on Android devices, many smartphone makers may launch supporting hardware to attract more customers. Traditional password locks are used to protect devices from unauthorized use. A fingerprint lock will become an added protection for smartphone customers to guard their handsets.
Android M is expected to have features that allow enhanced parental control and protection for devices. The upcoming mobile operating system will allow mobile devices to have better control of the gadgets at home, cars, as well as wearables.
Android M is also expected to feature a better native keyboard and offer ultra-power saving mode as a standard. Android mobile device users will have to wait for another few days before Google officially reveals the features of Android M at the Google I/O.
Photo: JD Hancock | Flickr
