Apple’s iPhone 5s has a fingerprint sensor embedded in the home button. HTC is rumoured to be sticking a fingerprint sensor on the rear of the forthcoming HTC One Max. And now Samsung is next in line to add biometrics to its mobile hardware: the company has today announced it’s acquiring Swedish biometrics company Fingerprint Cards AB*– which makes a range of fingerprint sensor modules — for $650 million in cash. Samsung said today that the acquisition will*”increase the accessibility of swipe sensor technology”. The Korean mobile maker made no mention of Apple’s new flagship fingerprint sensor feature — Touch ID — but that’s the clear driver here. At the launch of its new iPhone last month, the iPhone 5s, Apple*replaced its flagship smartphone’s home button with a fingerprint sensor that allows users to unlock their phone with their fingerprint, and verify purchases on iTunes without having to input a password. As well as offering users the convenience of not having to keep inputting a passcode/password, Touch ID differentiates Apple’s flagship hardware from rivals — at least for the moment. It’s now a race for Samsung to launch Galaxy-branded devices with a own fingerprint sensor to neutralise Apple’s first mover advantage here. “Swipe sensor technology is phenomenal in every way and are going to be loved by millions of people around the world,” said Samsung CEO Kwon Oh-hyun in a statement announcing the acquisition. “Together we will create the future.” The acquisition tallies with earlier rumours that Samsung is planning to add a fingerprint sensor to the next generation of its Galaxy Note phablet. Developing story. More to come. Full release follows below… Fingerprint Cards AB and Samsung Electronics today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Samsung will acquire Fingerprint Cards, the leading fingerprint verification company, for $650 million in cash. The agreement has been approved by the boards of directors of both Fingerprint Cards and Samsung. The acquisition will increase the accessibility of swipe sensor technology. The combination will extend Fingerprint Cards world class technology. Swipe sensor technology is phenomenal in every way and are going to be loved by millions of people around the world,” said Samsung CEO Kwon Oh-hyun. “Together we will create the future. Fingerprint Cards will become a new business division within Samsung, and Fingerprint Cards CEO Johan Carlström will assume the title of president of the Samsung Fingerprint Cards