Unlocking your iPhone with a fingerprint would be awesomely convenient. But is this going too far? Oh yeah! Take my fingerprint, please! Apple just picked up AuthenTec for $356 million, which could result in a cool benefit for iPhone and iPad users. Here’s what AuthenTec will bring to the iParty, according to SEC filings: “The Restricted Information may be used solely for the purpose of developing a 2D fingerprint sensor for Apple that is suitable for use in an Apple product.” I’m hoping that I will soon be able to unlock my iPhone just by touching it. Plugging in letters is a pain, and I envy Android users who make simple finger patterns to unlock their phones. A mere fingerprint, though, is even better. If you want your iPhone to get Outlook email from work (and really, who doesn’t?), the tradeoff is that your iPhone auto-locks after every five minutes of non-use. Thankfully, I can still access Siri when the iPhone is locked: Settings->General->Passcode Lock->Siri->On. There’s just one problem: A fingerprint, like any biometric, is about as personal as it gets. Should I be concerned about privacy? Apple already knows my credit card number via iTunes, although I can always cancel my card. Apple knows where I go, although I can always turn off location tracking. The one thing I can’t turn off is my fingerprint. My colleague, Bill Snyder, has already raised concerns that your smartphone is a spy for the government. Then again, Snyder isn’t terribly concerned about fingerprints. “I would assume the data is stored locally,” he says. “If that’s the case, I don’t think there is a lot to worry about. What’s more, at this point biometric identification is used so infrequently, I don’t see a threat even if the data is stored in the cloud. It’s not as if you access your bank account via fingerprint.” If Snyder isn’t worried, that’s good enough for me. I’m willing to give up my fingerprint to Apple in return for a little convenience. But I’ll know I’m in trouble when my iPhone suddenly snaps my picture, and Siri orders me to turn to the side. Related content opinion Google Bigwig Eric Schmidt Posts Bizarre Guide for 'Converting to Android from iPhone' Google's Executive Chairman wants you to switch from iPhone to Android, and he posted a strange guide to help make the transition as smooth as possible. By Al Sacco Dec 09, 2013 2 mins Smartphones Android Operating Systems opinion Apple's 'Spaceship' Campus Evokes Jobs-Era Perfectionism Some facts have emerged about Apple's planned "spaceship" campus. Delayed and over-budget but painstakingly detailed, it's already part of Apple history, and makes CIO.com's Tom Kaneshige nostalgic for Steve Jobs' maniac By Tom Kaneshige Apr 05, 2013 3 mins Financial Services Industry Innovation IT Leadership opinion Apple, Where Art Thou? Apple is under siege and uncharacteristically running for cover amidst mounting competition and research reports favoring Android. By Tom Kaneshige Mar 12, 2013 2 mins Smartphones Tablets IT Leadership opinion Is Computer's Future a Glass House? According to Google and Corning, glass surfaces and eyeglasses are where we'll do our computing in the future. By Tom Kaneshige Mar 06, 2013 1 min Small and Medium Business Innovation Mobile Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe