Vendor rises from Marconi's crypt

PDA biometric and encryption software launched

A new vendor, Keycrypt, has emerged from the ruins of Marconi Secure Solutions (MSS), and is launching mobile security products for the enterprise market.

The firm has appointed Peapod as its UK distributor and is now looking for resellers.

Keycrypt's founders were software developers at MSS, which went into liquidation in November. Keycrypt bought the patent rights to several mobile communications and security projects that Marconi had been about to launch.

John Dale, Keycrypt's managing director, now hopes to finish the work that Marconi started, and has unveiled a range of biometric and encryption software for PDAs.

Gartner said that the corporate use of PDAs in Europe is set to grow six-fold over the next two years. However, Todd Kort, an analyst at the firm, said that Gartner had lowered its worldwide PDA forecasts for 2002 and 2003.

The devices are facing increasing competition from data-enabled smart phones and mobile PCs.

PDA security for confidential information is a market that Marconi targeted before its rationalisation forced it to abandon projects.

"It was unfortunate because a lot of good work fell by the wayside," said Tim Gillot, operations director at Keycrypt. "However, we picked up the technology rights at a very advantageous price."

According to Keycrypt, PDAs are being used in hospitals to enable consultants to access patient records on the move.

Securing this confidential information is one of the key markets that Marconi had hoped to address. Keycrypt now aims to pick up this business through Peapod's channel of resellers.