AuthenTec
A United States semiconductor and security technology company known for fingerprint sensors, embedded security products, and mobile identity solutions.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
AuthenTec was a United States technology company headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, whose activities combined semiconductor design, computer security, mobile security, identity management, biometrics, and touch-control technologies. It was established in 1998 through a spin-off from Harris Semiconductor and developed components and software intended to help computer and mobile-device manufacturers add hardware-based identity and security functions. The company's best-known technology was its TruePrint family of smart fingerprint sensors. These sensors were designed for integration into computers and mobile devices, enabling fingerprint-based authentication in products made by other manufacturers. AuthenTec also supplied related software and embedded security products, including TrueSuite identity-management software and TrueProtect security technology, the latter associated with the embedded-security business obtained from SafeNet. Its business model therefore extended beyond selling sensors: it licensed mobile-security software and supplied security components to original equipment manufacturers and other technology companies. AuthenTec expanded through acquisitions during the late 2000s and early 2010s. It acquired EzValidation in 2008, Atrua Technologies in 2009, and SafeNet's Embedded Security Solutions division in 2010. In the same year, AuthenTec merged with UPEK, another fingerprint-sensor company. These transactions broadened its capabilities in biometric hardware, software, and embedded security. In 2011, it announced cooperation with NXP Semiconductors and DeviceFidelity on a package combining wireless chips, biometric sensors, mobile applications, and microSD cards for near-field-communication payments and transportation check-ins on Android devices. AuthenTec became a publicly traded company in June 2007. Its independent existence ended when Apple Inc. acquired it on 27 July 2012 for $356 million. The acquisition brought AuthenTec's biometric and security expertise into Apple. AuthenTec's fingerprint-sensing technology subsequently became closely associated with Apple's Touch ID biometric-authentication system, although Touch ID was an Apple product and not an independently marketed AuthenTec consumer brand. After the acquisition, AuthenTec no longer operated as an independent public company, and its corporate identity was absorbed into Apple's technology organization.
History
AuthenTec originated in 1998 when it was spun off from Harris Semiconductor. The new company was based in Melbourne, Florida, and focused on semiconductor and security technologies rather than consumer electronics sold under its own retail brand. Its portfolio developed around biometric authentication, embedded security, mobile security software, identity management, and touch-control applications. A central part of AuthenTec's business was the TruePrint family of smart fingerprint sensors. These components were intended for integration by computer and mobile-device manufacturers, allowing those manufacturers to offer fingerprint authentication in their own products. AuthenTec also provided TrueSuite identity-management software and TrueProtect embedded-security products. The latter represented the company's expansion into embedded security following its acquisition of SafeNet's Embedded Security Solutions division. AuthenTec's growth strategy included both public-market financing and acquisitions. It became publicly traded in June 2007. In 2008, it acquired EzValidation. In 2009, it acquired Atrua Technologies for $5 million, adding to its biometric and fingerprint-related capabilities. In 2010, AuthenTec acquired SafeNet's Embedded Security Solutions division and merged with UPEK. These moves broadened the company from a specialist fingerprint-sensor supplier into a provider of integrated hardware and software security technologies. The company also pursued mobile applications for emerging contactless-payment and transit use cases. In 2011, AuthenTec began working with NXP Semiconductors and DeviceFidelity on a combination of wireless chips, sensors, mobile applications, and microSD cards. The proposed platform was aimed at manufacturers and mobile network operators supporting Android devices, with use cases including NFC mobile payments and transportation check-ins. AuthenTec's independent corporate history ended in 2012. Apple Inc. acquired the company on 27 July 2012 for $356 million. The transaction transferred AuthenTec's biometric and security technology to Apple and removed AuthenTec from the public-company landscape. AuthenTec's fingerprint technology subsequently became associated with Apple's Touch ID authentication system. Touch ID was an Apple product integration rather than a continuing AuthenTec-branded offering, and AuthenTec is therefore treated as a defunct independent brand.
- 2012
Acquisition by Apple
[1]Apple acquired AuthenTec for $356 million on 27 July, ending the company's independent operation.
- 2011
NFC mobile-solution collaboration
[1]AuthenTec, NXP Semiconductors, and DeviceFidelity collaborated on NFC payment and transit-check-in solutions for Android devices.
- 2010
Expansion into embedded security
[1]AuthenTec acquired SafeNet's Embedded Security Solutions division and merged with UPEK.
- 2009
Atrua Technologies acquisition
[1]AuthenTec acquired Atrua Technologies for $5 million, strengthening its fingerprint-sensor activities.
- 2008
EzValidation acquisition
[1]AuthenTec acquired EzValidation as part of its expansion in security-related technology.
- 2007
Public listing
[1]AuthenTec became a publicly traded company in June.
- 1998
Spin-off from Harris Semiconductor
[1]AuthenTec was established as a spin-off from Harris Semiconductor and began developing semiconductor, biometric, and security technologies.
Products and positioning
A supplier of biometric authentication, embedded security, and mobile identity technologies for computer and mobile-device manufacturers.
Fingerprint biometrics
TruePrint smart sensors
TruePrint was AuthenTec's principal fingerprint-sensor family. The sensors were designed for use in computers and mobile devices, providing hardware for biometric authentication and identity verification. AuthenTec supplied the technology primarily to manufacturers and integrators rather than positioning it as a standalone consumer product.
Identity-management software
TrueSuite
TrueSuite was AuthenTec's identity-management software offering. It worked with the company's biometric technology to support fingerprint-based access and identity functions on compatible computer and mobile platforms.
Embedded security
TrueProtect
TrueProtect was AuthenTec's embedded-security product line, associated with the Embedded Security Solutions business acquired from SafeNet. It represented the company's effort to provide security capabilities within connected devices and other embedded systems.
Mobile security and contactless applications · 2011
NFC mobile security and payment components
Through its 2011 collaboration with NXP Semiconductors and DeviceFidelity, AuthenTec contributed biometric sensors and related security capabilities to a broader NFC platform involving wireless chips, mobile applications, and microSD cards. The intended uses included mobile payments and transportation check-ins on Android devices.
Brand decisions
2012
Acquisition by AppleM&ABackground
Apple acquired AuthenTec to obtain biometric and security capabilities for its device ecosystem.
Action taken
Apple Inc. acquired AuthenTec on 27 July 2012 for $356 million.
Aftermath
AuthenTec ceased to operate as an independent public company. Its fingerprint technology became associated with Apple's later Touch ID authentication system.
Acquisition price. $356 million (27 July 2012)
2011
Collaboration on NFC mobile payments and transit accessStrategyBackground
Mobile manufacturers and network operators were exploring NFC-based payments and transportation check-ins.
Action taken
AuthenTec worked with NXP Semiconductors and DeviceFidelity on a combined platform using wireless chips, biometric sensors, mobile applications, and microSD cards.
Aftermath
The collaboration extended AuthenTec's security technology into mobile NFC use cases, particularly for Android devices.
2010
SafeNet division acquisition and UPEK mergerM&ABackground
AuthenTec was combining biometric hardware with broader embedded-security capabilities.
Action taken
The company acquired SafeNet's Embedded Security Solutions division and merged with UPEK.
Aftermath
AuthenTec expanded its portfolio across embedded security and fingerprint sensing.
2009
Acquisition of Atrua TechnologiesM&ABackground
AuthenTec sought to strengthen its fingerprint-sensor technology portfolio.
Action taken
AuthenTec acquired Atrua Technologies for $5 million.
Aftermath
The transaction added to AuthenTec's biometric technology capabilities.
Acquisition price. $5 million (2009)
2008
Acquisition of EzValidationM&ABackground
AuthenTec was broadening its security-technology capabilities after becoming a public company.
Action taken
The company acquired EzValidation.
Aftermath
The acquisition became part of AuthenTec's expansion before its later biometric and embedded-security transactions.
Recent events
- 2012
Apple acquires AuthenTec[1]
M&A
Apple acquired AuthenTec on 27 July 2012 for $356 million, ending AuthenTec's independent corporate existence and bringing its biometric and security capabilities into Apple.
- 2011
AuthenTec, NXP, and DeviceFidelity collaborate on NFC mobile solutions[1]
Product launch · Other
The companies announced a collaboration combining wireless chips, biometric sensors, mobile applications, and microSD cards for NFC payments and transportation check-ins on Android devices.
- 2010
AuthenTec acquires SafeNet embedded-security division and merges with UPEK[1]
M&A
AuthenTec expanded its embedded-security portfolio by acquiring SafeNet's Embedded Security Solutions division and also merged with fingerprint-sensor company UPEK.
- 2009
AuthenTec acquires Atrua Technologies[1]
M&A
AuthenTec acquired Atrua Technologies for $5 million, strengthening its position in fingerprint-sensor technology.
- 2008
AuthenTec acquires EzValidation[1]
M&A
The company acquired EzValidation as part of its expansion in security and validation technologies.
- 2007
AuthenTec becomes a publicly traded company[1]
Other
AuthenTec began trading publicly in June 2007 after operating as a semiconductor and security technology spin-off.
Sources1 sources
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