LAS VEGAS, Apr 4, 2006/ --- Many U.S. cell phone users want the same advanced mobile commerce services and biometric fingerprint protection that are available to cell phone users in Asia, a new AuthenTec survey found.

The survey results were released in conjunction with the CTIA Wireless 2006 conference held in Las Vegas April 5-7.

According to the survey, which was sponsored by AuthenTec, found that 58% of the respondents would purchase a phone with the m-commerce, wireless banking and biometric security features similar to those available in Asia.

Forty-seven percent (47%) would consider switching service providers to obtain the services. Nearly one-third would pay an additional $20-50 more for their new featured phone, according to the survey.

Other survey findings show that U.S. wireless users would replace their wallets and credit cards with their cell phones for a variety of services if they had the ability, including:

A majority of the survey respondents also said they wanted biometric fingerprint sensors - which also are available on phones in Asia - to provide the added security and convenience to protect their phones and these new services. Results show:

Nearly 5 million biometrically enabled m-commerce phones already are in use in Japan and Korea, with new phone models being introduced every few months. Major manufacturers and service providers such as LG Electronics, Samsung, NTT DoCoMo, KTF, and Pantech each provide multiple models of these phones.

Users in Asia use phones with m-commerce capabilities that enable them to wave a phone in front of a reader to instantly enter a train or subway, and securely and easily purchase items from thousands of stores or vending machines. Users also can securely purchase music, books and other items via the wireless web.

Fingerprint sensors protect m-commerce on cell phones by enabling only the authorized user to make the transaction. The enrolled user simply swipes his or her finger across the sensor to authenticate the activity. The sensors also protect the phone and its stored files in case the phone is lost or stolen.

"Secure wireless m-commerce is a global phenomenon, with wide interest by consumers in many regions of the world. The survey shows that the security and convenience that biometric m-commerce phones provide have broad appeal, and could be widely adopted in the U.S., as it already is in Asia," said Andy Germano, director of wireless segment marketing for AuthenTec.