Korean media is buzzing with reports that Samsung will launch a Galaxy Note 3 version with a fingerprint scanner by the end of the year.

Apple recently launched its new iPhone 5S flagship with a fingerprint sensor, apparently setting a new smartphone trend for biometric authentication technology. Fujitsu and Pantech have already launched phones with fingerprint scanners in Asia, while in Western markets HTC is expected to unleash its HTC One Max Android phablet featuring the technology.

Samsung reportedly wanted to launch the current Galaxy Note 3 with a fingerprint sensor, but ultimately decided to drop this plan as Validity, the company that was supposed to provide the sensor, proved to offer an unreliable solution.

Analysts are still in doubts regarding whether Samsung would join the fingerprint scanner party this year, but a new report out of Korea claims that it will. Citing industry sources, the reliable ETNews portal reports that Samsung is currently developing its own fingerprint recognition technology and might pack it on a Galaxy Note 3 variant first.

"If things go as planned, Samsung Electronics will finish development of the fingerprint recognition system by the end of the year," said one of the publication's sources. The company is reportedly developing the fingerprint recognition technology on its own, but companies such as Parton and CrucialTec may get involved in the supply channel.

Apple and Samsung have a long history of legal spats regarding copyright infringement, each claiming that the other has copied its patented designs and innovations. Likely in a bid to avoid such instances, Samsung is reportedly considering a way to differentiate its fingerprint scanning technology.

While Apple integrated the fingerprint sensor in the Home button of the iPhone 5, Pantech and HTC have placed the sensor on the handset's back. That doesn't leave Samsung with many choices in terms of design differences. Some claim the company is trying to put the sensor on the smartphone's side, but the little available space on the rear would pose some serious technical challenges.

Previous reports indicated that Samsung may follow a similar strategy for the Galaxy Note 3 as it did with its flagship Galaxy S4, i.e. creating one flagship and various spinoffs of the original device. The Galaxy Note 3 with a fingerprint scanner may be one of those rumored spinoffs, but Samsung made no official announcement in this department so far. Consequently, it is advisable to take such rumors with a grain of salt until something concrete comes along. We'll keep you updated as soon as we receive official confirmation.