Updates

BIO-key Awarded Contract by Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police for Statewide Data Sharing Initiative

WALL, N.J., March 21 BIO-key International, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: BKYI - News), a leader in finger-based biometricentification and wireless public safety solutions, announced today that it has been awarded a contract with the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police. Under this contract, BIO-key will develop a mobile data sharing connection to the association's Ohio Local Law Enforcement Information Sharing Network (OLLEISN) web service interface. developing a mobile data sharing connection to the association's Ohio Local Law Enforcement Information Sharing Network (OLLEISN) web service interface This data sharing mechanism will allow BIO-key law enforcement customer agencies throughout Ohio to access additional information, through their BIO- key MobileCop software, which will help them make better and more informed decisions. The OLLEISN database contains multi-jurisdictional information about arrests, alerts, incidents, and wants and warrants. It is complementary to LEADS, a state maintained database containing information on Ohio stolen vehicles, driver's license and state data, and other information.According to Ted Oakley PhD, OLLEISN program director, "The primary vision of this data sharing system is to protect Ohio citizens from acts of crime, by creating a network and culture of information-sharing among local law enforcement agencies. Giving officers access to this information will allow them to be more informed and make better decisions."BIO-key has almost 100 customer agencies in Ohio. By offering these agencies the opportunity to access OLLEISN, several thousand law enforcement officers around the state can have more in-depth information that will result in better in-field decisions, enhancing officer safety."As a leading provider of public safety mobile data solutions in Ohio, BIO-key continues to look for ways to improve the tools we offer to our customers," added Ken Souza, General Manager of BIO-key's Law Enforcement Business Unit. "With access to OLLEISN's essential information, our customer agencies will improve their ability to effectively serve and protect their communities."About BIO-keyBIO-key develops and delivers advancedentification solutions and information services to law enforcement departments, public safety agencies, government and private sector customers. BIO-key's mobile wireless technology provides first responders with critical, reliable, real-time data and images from local, state and national databases. BIO-key's high-performance, scalable, cost-effective and easy-to-deploy biometric fingerentification technology accuratelyentifies and authenticates users of wireless and enterprise data to improve security, convenience and privacy and to reduceentity theft. Over 2,500 police, fire and emergency services departments in North America use BIO-key solutions, making BIO-key the leading supplier of mobile and wireless solutions for public safety worldwide. (http://www.bio-key.com)BIO-key Safe Harbor StatementThis news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected on the basis of these statements. The words "estimate," "project," "intends," "expects," "believes" and similar expressions are intended toentify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management pursuant to the "safe-harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For a more complete description of these and other risk factors that may affect the future performance of BIO-key International, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company also undertakes no obligation to disclose any revision to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.    For more information contact:     Julie Garand     508-460-4036     julie.garand@bio-key.com