The Iris technology allows the computer in ATM take a snap of the customer's irises (applicable even where one wears lenses or spectacles) instead of using the ATM card or remembering the pin number. Found to be 100 per cent reliable as irises can not be duplicated, the iris pattern is sent to the central data centre which identifies the user and offers ATM services. The technology is being tried in nine countries by Diebold Inc, the joint venture partner of HMA.

According to senior manager, marketing, Manjunath Rao, ``the response has been so good that the product is now undergoing commercial trials in many countries. In India, too many of the networked banks have expressed interest but would like to have some trial runs before purchasing'' he said. Banks having ATMs can upgrade this facility at an addiitonal cost of Rs 1.5 lakh.

A new Iris-enabled ATM will cost Rs 15 lakh, just a lakh more than the existing models. The private banks who have branch networking facilities or centralised data warehousing in place, would be the first targets.

Meanwhile Diebold HMA is also working on web-enabling ATMs. In line with the home PC banking or internet banking, which many banks wish to promote, the company is trying to bring about a common format while accessing ATMs as available in computers. ATM options are very static and menus different from those available in internet banking. However if they are web-enabled, the menu should be similar as in a browser, givingregular banking options with some additional features such as utility payments (where applicable), tourist spots, hotel information and so on. Diebold HMA has installed 716 out of the 1,200 machines in the country. It has 44 banking customers and a countrywide network of 33 offices to provide 24 hours after sales services.

According to a UK-based research agency report, in the next five years, India will have a growth of 62 per cent in self-service banking, which is supposed to augur well for ATM suppliers in the future.