The Marine Corps in September completed fielding a new multimodal biometrics system, the Identity Dominance System-Marine Corps (IDS-MC), to help deployed Marines identify individuals they encounter on the battlefield, at entry control point operations, and determine friend from foe. The handheld Secure Enrollment Kit, which is supplied by Crossmatch Technologies, is combined with a laptop computer and badge printer and replaces the Biometric Enrollment Screening Device. The Marine Corps says it’s IDS-MC “conveniently collects, shares, matches and stores identify information immediately, allowing the user to connect to the Tactical Data Network, manage and submit collected data and receive responses and feedback on submissions.”
Gemalto, which earlier this year acquired the identity management business of 3M Corp. [MMM], says it is reviewing an unsolicited and conditional acquisition proposal by Atos. Gemalto says the $5 billion offer was made on Nov. 28 and is valid until Dec. 15. Gemalto retained Deutsche Bank and J.P. Morgan as its financial advisors for the proposal. France-based Atos is an information technology company. It says a combination with Gemalto “would result in enhanced global leadership in cybersecurity, digital technologies and services and in the strengthening of our positioning as a leading European payment services provider.”