Aug. 3--Melbourne-based AuthenTec Inc. said Monday it has inked a distribution deal with Murata of Japan to expand the local company's reach into the global market for fingerprint-sensor-based consumer electronics.

Murata -- one of the world's largest distributors of electronic components -- will become AuthenTec's distributor in Japan and to many customers in a number of key global markets, according to terms of the deal.

AuthenTec said the Murata connection "will help us expand our reach into Asia, Europe and other regions." The company designs and produces fingerprint-recognition sensors for personal computers, cell phones, security systems and other consumer electronics.

In a written statement, Murata's sensor products chief Hiroshi Iwatsubo said "We are extremely pleased to expand our offering to our customers throughout Japan, as well as many of the world's leading cell phone customers, to include AuthenTec's highly regarded sensor products and solutions."

Scott Moody, AuthenTec's CEO, said Murata's globally-known brand will open new sales channels for the company's fingerprint-recognition sensors for PCs, netbooks and smart phones.

"We look forward to the expansion of our global presence through this partnership," he said in a statement.

Murata's major customers include Casio-Hitachi, Kyocera, NEC, Nintendo, Panasonic, Pioneer, Sanyo and Sharp in Japan; as well as companies such as Garmin, Nokia, Research in Motion, Sony Ericsson, Sony and TomTom in other geographic regions.

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