Fujitsu PalmSecure(TM) Selected by Pearson VUE to Verify Identities of Test Takers

SUNNYVALE, Calif. (Map) - SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc., a leading supplier of innovative computer products including hard disk drives, peripherals and biometric security solutions, today announced that Pearson VUE, the computer-based testing business of Pearson, will implement Fujitsu's PalmSecure palm vein authentication solution as an integral component of its Secure Testing Framework(TM). PalmSecure's highly accurate, non-intrusive authentication methods will allow Pearson VUE's clients -- beginning with the Graduate Management Admission Council(R) (GMAC(R)), the organization of business schools around the world that owns and administers the Graduate Management Admission Test(R) (GMAT(R)) -- to verify the identities of test takers to maintain the integrity of the exams and ensure the reliability of test results.

"At Pearson VUE, we take security extremely seriously. One of the reasons why so many leading organizations elect to use our services is because of our Secure Testing Framework(TM), which protects all aspects of a testing program, including protecting the intellectual property of our clients," said Robert Whelan, president, Pearson VUE. "One particularly egregious method of cheating involves a professional test taker-referred to as a 'proxy' -- taking a test for another candidate, and, it is imperative that we stay at the leading edge of candidate authentication. We selected Fujitsu's PalmSecure technology because it provides unbeatable accuracy in a cost-effective and scalable solution that is easy-to-use and is non-intrusive for candidates."

GMAC and Pearson VUE will introduce PalmSecure initially at 16 testing facilities in India and Korea for GMAT exam candidates. When fully deployed, PalmSecure will be implemented at more than 400 facilities in 107 countries worldwide and will be available to all of Pearson VUE's professional testing clients. Eventually, millions of test takers will be identified with PalmSecure and enrolled in Pearson VUE's candidate database to help validate identity.

"For decades, the world's leading business schools have relied upon the GMAT exam as the best predictor of a candidate's academic success. We have an ethical responsibility to business schools and students to preserve the integrity of the GMAT and the application process, so insuring the highest level of security is critical," said David A. Wilson, president and CEO, GMAC. "Pearson VUE is an excellent partner in this capacity because it, too, places an emphasis on security and responsibility to our customers. PalmSecure helps us respond to the needs of our international marketplace. It is a more accurate, more efficient, and less invasive way to ensure that each test taker has a single GMAT record, thus preventing individuals from taking the test for others."

Fujitsu's PalmSecure uses a near infrared light to capture a person's palm vein pattern, generating a unique biometric template that is matched against pre-registered users' palm vein patterns. This advanced, vascular pattern recognition technology provides a highly reliable form of authentication. Pearson VUE worked with a vendor-independent, technology-neutral third-party company that engineers and integrates biometric identification systems for mission-critical applications, to determine an identity management technology would be the best choice for next-generation authentication. After evaluating a number of different options, Pearson VUE selected Fujitsu's PalmSecure based on its accuracy -- PalmSecure's false acceptance ratio is just 0.00008 percent -- compared to other forms of biometrics, as well as its ease-of-use, fast comparisons and non-intrusive form factor. It provides unsurpassable accuracy, maximum candidate privacy, and is the ultimate solution for global identity management over single fingerprint biometrics.

"Healthcare organizations, government agencies, financial institutions and many other global enterprises, rely on PalmSecure as a cost-effective, highly accurate authentication solution," said Joel Hagberg, vice president, marketing and business development, Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc. "Fujitsu's next-generation biometric technology provides a virtually error- free identification device that is non-intrusive to the user unlike other biometric offerings. PalmSecure is the ideal choice for companies, like Pearson VUE, that are looking for an advanced authorization system. We look forward to working with Pearson VUE to help them eliminate cheating and continue to offer its clients the highest quality services available."

About Pearson VUE

Pearson VUE (www.pearsonvue.com) is the global leader in electronic testing for regulatory and certification boards, providing a full suite of services from test development to test delivery to data management. Pearson VUE offers exams through the world's largest network of test centers in 162 countries, providing testing services for information technology, academic, government and professional clients. Pearson VUE acquired the former Promissor in 2006, thereby extending its leadership in the certification market. The company's innovative technology offers the highest levels of security and program control, while its commitment to service provides clients and individual test takers with an unmatched testing experience. Pearson VUE is a business of Pearson (NYSE: PSO; LSE: PSON), the international media company, whose businesses include the Financial Times Group, Pearson Education and the Penguin Group.

About GMAC

The Graduate Management Admission Council (www.gmac.com), based in McLean, Va., is a nonprofit education organization of leading graduate business schools worldwide dedicated to creating access to and disseminating information about graduate management education. The Council also owns the Graduate Management Admission Test(R) (GMAT), used by more than 4,000 graduate management programs at some 1,800 business schools around the world to assess applicants. The GMAT was created in 1954 and remains the first and only standardized test specifically designed for graduate business and management programs. More information about the GMAC is available at gmac.com and about the GMAT exam at mba.com.

About Fujitsu

Fujitsu is a leading provider of IT-based business solutions for the global marketplace. With approximately 160,000 employees supporting customers in 70 countries, Fujitsu combines a worldwide corps of systems and services experts with highly reliable computing and communications products and advanced microelectronics to deliver added value to customers. Headquartered in Tokyo, Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 5.3 trillion yen (US$53 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. For more information, please see: www.fujitsu.com.

About Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc.

Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc. conducts engineering and marketing activities in Sunnyvale, CA and sales operations throughout the United States. Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc. currently offers products and services including scanners and scanner maintenance, hard disk drives, palm vein recognition technology and 10Gb Ethernet switches. Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc. is located at 1255 East Arques Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA, 94085. For more information about Fujitsu products and services, call us at 800-626-4686 or 408-746-7000. For more information, please see: http://us.fujitsu.com/fcpa.

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