This type of reader device would most typically be used by border management, law enforcement and transportation. The product is being unveiled this week at the CARTES & IDentification event in Paris, and will be available commercially in early 2011. Pricing has not yet been announced for the device.

The first five-in-one device of its kind from 3M, the product is equipped with readers for optical character recognition (OCR), three-track magnetic stripes, contactless RF chips and contact chips, as well as an optical, single fingerprint capture device. Once the data is captured in any one of these five modes, the device encrypts and relays it via wireless Bluetooth technology to a user’s existing computer such as a laptop, tablet PC or smartphone.

The 3M MD6000 Mobile ID Reader gives users the ability to make real-time, field-based operational decisions, without having to call in ID checks to a local station. In a law enforcement application, for example, officers will have the ability to validate multiple forms of ID at a scene. In a border-control scenario, the reader will allow agents to check travel documents at entry or exit points.

The reader gives users greater flexibility to take advantage of future technology improvements in processors and communications devices without the need to replace reader equipment. With exceptional flexibility in how data is captured and processed, the 3M MD6000 Mobile ID Reader gives customers a lower cost and versatile tool for use in the field.

For more information about 3M Security Systems, visit www.3M.com/Security