ABI Research forecasts $3.1 billion global revenues in 2015 for biometrics in the consumer and enterprise sectors with much of the growth coming from smartphone solutions, according to recent reports published by the firm.

Existing smartphone hardware provides a relatively stable foothold for some authentication modalities but rapid advances in the biometrics field will drive further smartphone hardware upgrades, ABI said in a press release. Meanwhile, pioneering algorithm design and cloud computing services are transforming user authentication, according to the annoucement.

"Biometry is moving rapidly into the security ecosystem and its adoption by CE devices will jumpstart this phenomenon," said digital security research analyst Dimitrios Pavlakis. "Specifically, smartphone biometrics provide not only a secure alternative for authentication, mobile payments, and BYOD initiatives but also enhance user experience, navigation, mobility, and versatility."

Market leaders such as Apple and Samsung are setting the new norm for smartphone authentication and mobile payments using biometrics, according to the report. Other companies such as AGNITiO, EyeVerify, ImageWare Systems, KeyLemon, and Nok Nok Labs are introducing voice and face biometrics into the landscape, investigating innovative methods of consumer identity management, and implementing improved security features.