Amazon introduces fingerprint authentication for in-home service app

World’s best online shopping portal, Amazon.com has included fingerprint authentication in their in-home service app. The key app was released in October last year alongside Cloud Cam, an app that monitors the activity of delivery persons upon entering customer’s homes. Eventually, fingerprint authentication was added to the key app yesterday.

Given that the key application basically controls who gets in and out of customer’s homes, it would be risky if someone’s phone got into the hands of someone malicious. So Amazon has included an extra layer of security, i.e. fingerprint authentication, to the Android version of the application.

Amazon key enables the customers to remotely track the activities of the vendors and check the delivery footage later, so there is an additional layer of security for people who may leave their phones or tablets unattended around the home. Analysts have previously expressed concern over the app’s automatic launching system which has an access to the camera, visitor’s profile, and the door lock- issues that should be mitigated with fingerprint authentication when turned on.

The new fingerprint authentication feature will be available in the latest update of the Google Play Store on Android phones. It will take some time to introduce the feature on iOS.

The company has recently secured a smart doorbell in a deal valued at $1.1 billion, which apparently increased the business for last mile deliveries. Later last year, the company also purchased security start-up Blink for $90 million.