The iris can be used, for example, to improve authentication techniques for bank passwords

Nope. Like all biometrical data, you can't just replace the body part once the data is compromised. It's at most suitable for ease of access.

For example, Merkels fingerprints were "reverse-engineered" from photos using common wood glue.

German minister fingered as hacker 'steals' her thumbprint from a PHOTO

Merkel's iris print could be next

(www.theregister.com)

Yep, this discussion has been done to death decades ago when datacenters and other secure facilities started using iris scans.

Biometrics is the username, not the password.

It's frustrating that so many reporters and news orgs can't grasp this.

Yup, I use my fingerprint for my phone because it's convenient, but require my pin (6 numbers) on boot, and my phone reboots a couple times each day (after a set time not using it). Anything more important uses a very long password.

So it could restart, you wouldn't know and don't receive calls because you haven't authenticated?

Not OP, but most phones I've used will still allow incoming calls after reboot before being unlocked. You just can't access the apps until you've unlocked.

I still get calls, but I can't see details (e.g. just the phone number, not the caller).