Dive Brief:

• Samsung Galaxy S5 users can swipe their fingers to secure login and payment for m-commerce transactions that accept PayPal.

• The device scans the fingerprint and spits out a unique number that serves as secure login to PayPal. Further undisclosed security precautions also protect the transaction. Samsung employs hardware from Synaptics Inc. and software from Nok Nok Labs Inc. for its biometrics capabilities.

• Apple's iPhone 5s is also enabled for fingerprint scans, but because that's not part of its software development kit, app developers can’t create similar apps for iPhone.

Dive Insight:

If biometrics can take off on mobile, and if it proves to be as secure as it seems, it could solve the problem of credit card security that have been such a problem for retailers of late. That would create an environment where mobile payments are preferable to everyone. Stay tuned.