LONDON, December 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2009 Frost Sullivan European Border Security Product Innovation Award is presented to Sagem Securite (Safran Group) for its innovative Automated Border Control systems. The award recognises the company's expertise in advanced biometric technology and its continuous stewardship in offering novel, value-added products to end users.

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Sagem Securite has been involved in delivering identification systems in over 100 countries across the world, including MorphoWay(TM), the automated border control systems and a wide range of solutions dedicated to personal rights and flow management applications, notes Frost Sullivan Research Analyst Mohan Kumar V V. The company's automated border control system is a biometric technology-based identification, verification and physical entry control system that has been successfully used in border crossing and in airport terminals.

As Europe begins to implement the e-passports initiative, Sagem Securite's automated border control systems are gaining importance in checking the identity of passengers carrying biometric passports. The system provides three services; it reads and acquires the biometric data from the traveller, it then compares the data with the details in the biometric passport as well as the data with the databases of wanted persons and potentially risky travellers and finally, it controls the entry of the traveller through the entry gate.

Sagem Securite's automated border control systems have been extensively deployed, states Kumar. The Australian and New Zealand governments use Sagem Securite's customised border control system - SmartGate - at its major international airports. As part of the United Kingdom's e-borders programme, the UK Home Office uses Sagem Securite's automated border control system - Iris Recognition Immigration System (IRIS) - which is tailor made to suit the UK's border control regulations. And under the French modernization plan, the implementation of PARAFES programme, based on Sagem Securite's automated border control systems using fingerprint recognition technology, started in 2009.

Biometric e-Gate is another pilot project undertaken by the Oman government, which uses Sagem Securite's border control systems.

Sagem Securite's automated border control systems are customised to meet end user requirements and environmental constraints, remarks Kumar. Based on a modular concept, the systems can be upgraded and integrated as and when needed. In addition to identification and gate control, the system can also integrate a uniqueness detection system known as MorphoPath that can detect and ensure that only one passenger gets through the control gate at a time.

The system guarantees interoperability as it is designed to comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendations on biometrics. It is compatible with all e-passports and travel documents, including Basic Access Control (BAC) and Extended Access Control (EAC) standards.

Sagem Securite has shown mastery over all the biometric and detection technologies used in border security, concludes Kumar. Moreover, the ability of the modular automated border control system to use a range of biometric technologies, namely facial, iris and fingerprint in response to customer needs underlines its superiority. The product's overwhelming acceptance in the market is due to its ability to integrate with other security systems, thereby adding value.

The Frost Sullivan Award for Product Innovation is presented to the company that has demonstrated excellence in new products and technologies within its industry. The recipient company has shown innovation by launching a broad line of emerging products and technologies.

Frost Sullivan Best Practices Awards recognise companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.

About Sagem Securite

Sagem Securite is a high-technology company in the Safran Group. One of the world's leading providers of identification solutions, it is specialised in rights management and physical or logical access applications based on biometrics, a sector in which it is the world leader, plus secure terminals and smart cards. Integrated systems and equipment by Sagem Securite are used worldwide to ensure transport safety, data and personal security, and high-level governmental security. Through the SAFRAN Group, Sagem Securite operates worldwide.

www.sagem-securite.com www.safran-group.com

About Frost Sullivan

Frost Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best in class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost Sullivan leverages over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 35 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com.

Contact: Sagem Securite Caroline Coudert Tel: +33-(0)1-58-11-19-47 Mobile: +33-(0)6-11-88-72-67 Email: caroline.coudert@sagem.com Web: http://www.sagem-securite.com Kristina Menzefricke Promotions Manager - Europe Best Practices, Frost Sullivan P: +44-(0)1353-659130 kristina.menzefricke@frost.com

SOURCE: Frost SOURCE: Sullivan

CONTACT: Caroline Coudert of Sagem Securite, +33-(0)1-58-11-19-47, mobile,+33-(0)6-11-88-72-67, caroline.coudert@sagem.com; or Kristina Menzefricke,Promotions Manager - Europe, Best Practices, Frost Sullivan,+44-(0)1353-659130, kristina.menzefricke@frost.com