AuthenTec Named One of World's Most Innovative Companies For Third Consecutive Year by AlwaysOn; Fingerprint Biometrics Company Named to AO100 List of Innovative Private Companies.

MELBOURNE, Fla. & SAN FRANCISCO -- AuthenTec, the world leader in fingerprint sensor innovation and sales, has been named for the third year in a row to the AlwaysOn Network's top AO100 list -- which recognizes the most innovative, disruptive, and exciting technology firms.

AlwaysOn selected AuthenTec because it has "demonstrated excellence in five criteria: innovation, market potential, customer adoption, media buzz, and investor value creation," the company said. The AlwaysOn editorial panel selected the hundred most innovative and successful private firms from more than 1,000 companies nominated by venture investors, investment bankers, leading entrepreneurs and industry insiders. The full list can be found at www.alwayson-network.com.

"The AO 100 Top Private Companies represent the tech sector's most innovative, disruptive, and exciting firms," said Tony Perkins editor of AlwaysOn, "They all share strong performance track records, robust business models, leading technology, rapid customer adoption, and most importantly, significant market potential. These are the companies to watch."

"We are very proud to be recognized for the third year in a row by the AlwaysOn Network," said Scott Moody, president and CEO of AuthenTec. "This repeat award, combined with the recent adoption of our sensors by HP, Toshiba, APC, LG and other leading electronics manufacturers, validates our leadership in the industry and the exciting opportunities in the consumer biometrics market. We are experiencing tremendous growth from PC and wireless manufacturers worldwide that are looking for cost-effective ways to add our advanced security to their electronic devices."

Founded in 1998, AuthenTec is the number one supplier of biometric fingerprint sensors to the PC and wireless markets - with AuthenTec sensors in nearly 5 million devices, including notebook and tablet computers, portable hard drives, password managers, mice, pens, keyboards, memory keys, cell phones and others. The company recently launched the EntrePad 1510, the world's smallest and most powerful fingerprint sensor, and announced a host of new applications using the company's sensors - including the HP nx6125, two Toshiba notebook computers, Fujitsu notebook and tablet PCs, a Motion tablet PC, an APC biometric mouse, and an LG biometric cell phone.

About AlwaysOn

ALWAYSON is transforming the communication business with its online blogging network, establishing it as a leader in the Open Media revolution. Borrowing from the underground traditions of blogging and social networking, ALWAYSON (http://www.alwayson-network.com/) was launched in 2003. Today, AO's annual Summit @ Stanford and OnHollywood events, print "blogozine" and online services encourage direct collaboration between global thought leaders and technology insiders. No other media brand has dared allow such openness amongst its readers and participants. ALWAYSON, LLC, is a privately held and virtually headquartered company born out of the heart of Silicon Valley.

About AuthenTec

With more than four million sensors in use worldwide, AuthenTec is the world leader in fingerprint sensor innovation and sales to the PC, wireless, and access control markets. AuthenTec's award-winning FingerLoc(R) and EntrePad(R) sensors take full advantage of The Power of Touch(TM) by utilizing the company's patented TruePrint(R) technology to deliver the most convenient, reliable and cost-effective means available for enabling touch-powered features that extend beyond user authentication. The company's network of partners, solution providers and customers include Analog Devices, APC, Compal, Cherry, Fujitsu Computer, Computer Associates, Fellowes, HP, IBM, LGE, Microsoft, Motion Computing, NTT DoCoMo, Quanta, Samsung, Tatung, and Texas Instruments, among others. Visit www.authentec.com.