A new iris recognition device developed by California technology manufacturer AOptix Technologies Inc. will accomplish iris recognition more than 6 feet from the subject, the company said Tuesday.

The arrival of the new device signals an immediate gain for defense and security industries, corporate access control and management and immigration checks. The announcement of the innovation comes a few months after new advances in body scanning devices were put into place at major airports and other entry points in response to terror threats.

Demand for iris recognition devices has grown amid continuing global concerns over identity fraud and other kinds of abuses of the law, analysts said.

AOptix Technologies said its InSight 2-Meter Iris Recognition System was selected for Microsoft's Global Security Operations Center because of the ease of use of the device for access control.

AOptix Technologies indicated its strategic partnership for iris biometric security with the Microsoft Global Security Operations Center in Redmond, Wash., signaled a major advance.

Microsoft maintains three round-the-clock operation centers to monitor, communicate and coordinate responses for more than 700 sites worldwide. The other two centers are in the United Kingdom and India.

Integration of the AOptix InSight iris recognition system brings state-of-the art iris identification to Microsoft, their customers and partners, the company said.

"We are delighted to be in partnership with Microsoft to bring comprehensive iris recognition to the unique and powerful security capabilities that Microsoft has put together," AOptix InSight said in a statement.

Working at a nominal distance of 6.6 feet, the InSight system fully automates biometric image acquisition and provides consistent verification of a subject's identity in 2 seconds.

The system employs innovative adaptive optics technology that automatically finds the subject's face and eyes within a very large capture volume, making subject participation effortless.

The increased recognition space allows for varying personnel needs such as multiple heights ranging from wheelchairs to an excess of 7 feet, the company said.

Brian Tuskan, senior director of operations, technology, investigations at Microsoft Global Security said AOptix "is helping set a new standard for advanced iris biometrics with products such as the InSight device, which will bring enhanced security to our Global Security Operations Center."

Dean Senner, chairman, president and chief executive officer of AOptix Technologies said its technology complements Microsoft's commitment to offer a suite of leading edge security solutions.

AOptix said it foresees strong growth in biometrics-enabled access control solutions in the near future. Data centers and security operations are two notable high-risk facilities types addressable by the partnership, said the company.

AOptix Technologies, a privately funded company founded in 2000, has headquarters in Campbell, Calif.