Authentic, the fingerprint and secure solutions specialists that Apple agreed to buy in July, is selling its Embedded Security Solutions (ESS) division to a company called Inside Secure, reports "NFC World" (http://macte.ch/VGhtx).

"The sale suggests that Apple's interest in acquiring Authentec lies with the company's innovative combined fingerprint and NFC solution, which is not part of the division being acquired by Inside Secure, and will lead to renewed speculation that Apple will include NFC in future iPhones and other devices," the article adds.

This summer agreed to buy AuthenTec (www.authentec.com), a maker of fingerprint sensor chips used in personal computers, for US$8 per share, in a deal valued at about $356 million. Here's the company's official description of itself:

"AuthenTec encryption technology, fingerprint sensors and identity management software are deployed by the leading mobile device, networking and computing companies, content and service providers, and governments worldwide. AuthenTec’s products and technologies provide security on hundreds of millions of devices, and the Company has shipped more than 100 million fingerprint sensors for integration in a wide range of portable electronics including over 15 million mobile phones. Top tier customers include Alcatel-Lucent, Cisco, Fujitsu, HBO, HP, Lenovo, LG, Motorola, Nokia, Orange, Samsung, Sky, and Texas Instruments."