Samsung has partnered with PayPal to integrate the online service with the Galaxy S5's fingerprint scanner so users can verify payments with just the touch of a finger.
The flagship phone is the only device so far to have this capability, which could be a huge step toward making fingerprint identification mainstream in technology, the AFP's Relaxnews reported.
Samsung and PayPal announced the collaboration at February's Mobile World Congress. The fingerprint-reading function follows FIDO protocol, which looks to replace the traditional text password with biometric systems.
The FIDO Alliance comprises tech giants such as PayPal, Lenovo and Google, who are seeking to make biometric identification universal to keep users safe.
The PayPal system became live in 25 countries on Friday following the Galaxy S5's official launch. According to CNET, the biometric identification system can unlock the device, open private content and verify purchases from Samsung.
Samsung isn't the first smartphone maker to offer fingerprint-scanning technology, a function that launched on Apple's iPhone 5S in September, but the PayPal collaboration opens up new possibilities.
"While this first deployment of FIDO Ready technology leverages a biometric--a simple swipe of a finger--we anticipate FIDO authentication to emerge in many forms and applications, through many providers and as a result of many more innovative partnerships dedicated to moving beyond passwords with more secure, private, easier-to-use authentication," said Michael Barrett, president of the FIDO Alliance of the integration, as quoted by Relaxnews.
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