British Home Office Selects Imaging Automation To Improve Airport Security and Immigration Control.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

BEDFORD, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 5, 2003

Home Office Tests iA-thenticate Platform with Virgin Atlantic

Airlines and easyJet Airlines to Authenticate Identification

Documents, Screen Passengers and Provide Manifest Data

Imaging Automation, a global leader in document authentication and identity verification technologies, today announced that the U.K. Home Office will deploy 19 units of the company's iA-thenticate platform to authenticate identification documents and collect passenger information as part of a pilot program in four international airports with the cooperation of Virgin Atlantic Airlines and easyJet Airlines.

As part of the pilot program, the U.K. Home office will deploy three of their already existing units, bringing the project total to 22 iA-thenticate units. Virgin Atlantic Airlines will deploy the iA-thenticate platform at Heathrow Airport in London, England and Miami International Airport in the United States and easyJet will deploy the platform at Stansted Airport in England and Madrid Airport in Spain. This is the first time a government has deployed document authentication technology outside of their borders to improve security.

"This trial is the first step in a long-term programme to harness the latest technology to modernise and strengthen our border controls, creating a border security system fit for the 21st century," said Home Office Minister Beverley Hughes. "We need to ensure that we have in place measures to protect the security of our citizens and strengthen our borders to prevent people travelling to the UK illegally and to tackle terrorism and organised crime. It builds on the success of the screening technology we are deploying along the north European coastline, which has effectively moved our immigration controls abroad and significantly reduced the numbers of illegal entrants reaching the UK by these routes."

The U.K. Home office will initially use the iA-thenticate system to help screen passengers at four international airports, as part of a comprehensive effort to enhance already existing security efforts and to cut down on the number of illegal aliens entering the United Kingdom.

At each Virgin Airlines and easyJet check-in terminal there will be an iA-thenticate platform where airline employees will scan official travel documents. The information collected will be sent to a central database where it will be checked against a national watch list in less than three seconds, before any traveler even boards the plane. This will alert airline officials to security breaches prior to departure. This application extends the borders beyond customs to include airport check-in and terminals, providing multi-layered checkpoints and improving airport border security.

"We are delighted to confirm that Virgin Atlantic is the long-haul carrier participating in this important trial," said Virgin CEO Richard Branson. "Virgin Atlantic is always keen to become involved with any innovative new products or technologies that may be able to enhance customer service and security. The safety and security of our passengers and crew is of paramount importance."

"The safety and security of our passengers, staff and aircraft is of the highest priority to easyJet and we have always been at the vanguard of airlines seeking ways of making air travel ever safer. For this reason, we are delighted to be involved in the Home Office trial," said Ray Webster, easyJet Chief Executive.

"The use of fraudulent documents can cause even the most secure governments and businesses to be vulnerable to attack by a security breach," said Bill Thalheimer, president and CEO of Imaging Automation. "The United Kingdom Home Office is taking the lead in protecting its air borders from terrorists and criminals and assuring that each passenger is validated and authenticated, creating the utmost level of security for its citizens."

Quickly Authenticating Travelers

The iA-thenticate platform determines whether or not a document is authentic, if it is expired, if it has been tampered with or if the photo or text matches any government watch lists The iA-thenticate platform performs multiple security checks in seconds and can be easily integrated with other technologies, such as biometrics.

iA-thenticate platform applications are in use at Boston's Logan International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, BAA's seven major U. K. airports, several U.S. states, the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency at all of Canada's major border crossings, the Swedish National Police, the Hungarian Border Police, the Finland Frontier Guards and other countries. Since deploying Imaging Automation's platform at its borders, Hungary has realized a 500 percent increase in border violation arrests.

About Imaging Automation

Imaging Automation is a global leader in document authentication, providing complete solutions that meet real-world needs with innovative technology. Since 1991, Imaging Automation has been making reliable, easy-to-use and effective systems for capturing and processing text and images. The company partners with industry leaders to provide the iA-thenticate platform, one of the world's most sophisticated document authentication platforms, used around the world in immigration, border control, passenger processing, credentialing and fraud detection. The only American company producing document authentication technology, Imaging Automation is on the Web at www.imagingauto.com.

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