Oki Electric has released middleware that can add iris recognition to cell phones and PDAs. The “Iris Recognition Technology for Mobile Terminals” software reportedly uses existing cameras and currently targets handheld devices running Windows Mobile, Windows XP or Symbian OS.

For several years, Oki has been providing iris-recognition equipment, but these devices required dedicated infrared cameras. The company says its new middleware can now use any camera offering more than 1 megapixel. This permits developers to add biometric security to easily stolen mobile devices, without a fingerprint reader or other additional hardware.