NXP and HID Global create mobile access control solutions for NFC phones

     NXP Semiconductors and HID Global announce a partnership to launch NFC solutions that support today's universal mobile access control systems. Based on existing contactless standards, NFC enables secure and convenient information exchange between devices over short distances, making it ideal for simple operation in mobile access control applications.

     Together, HID Global and NXP created the card access control system market, and as NFC becomes a standard feature in mobile phones, the two companies are working together to integrate access control solutions into NFC technology and roll them out to mobile phones.

     Contactless cards that employees use to enter corporate buildings and parking lots can now transfer digital access certificates to NFC-enabled phones. The certificate is stored in the NXP embedded security element in the phone and is fully compatible with today's widely used access control readers and systems. As NFC smartphones are increasingly used for access control, consumers and businesses will get the same high level of security and more convenience from their phones.

     In addition, the jointly developed solution also incorporates NXP and HID Global's leading card reader technology in the access control infrastructure. The solution supports existing HID Global card readers as well as those based on the company's iCLASS SIO (iCLASS SE) platform. The iCLASS SIO (iCLASS SE) platform supports a mobile access control model based on digital certificates, facilitating access control technology beyond traditional cards and readers. The HID iCLASS SE reader will feature NXP's new CLRC663 reader IC with full support for ISO 14443-compliant 13.56MHz smart cards, including the MIFARE DESFIRE EV1.

     To ensure maximum compatibility, the new mobile access management solution from NXP and HID Global is not only backward compatible with the HID Global iCLASS reader, It is also forward compatible with HID Global's Trusted Identity Platform (TIP) ecosystem. Existing HID customers can support NFC phones by upgrading some of the iCLASS implementations without replacing the installed card readers. NXP's technology enables the management of applications such as payments, e-government, access management and ticketing, all from a single microcontroller. This ensures the safety and convenience of identification without compromising safety, performance and design efficiency.

     Dr. Selva Selvaratnam, Senior vice President and Chief Technology Officer at HID Global, said: "NXP has made an outstanding contribution to driving the widespread adoption of NFC technology among handset manufacturers and developers. Through the partnership, the app can be installed instantly on a large number of phones. We are excited to partner with NXP and combine their leading positions in the access control market to deliver the most advanced solutions."

     Henri Ardevol, vice president and general manager of Secure Transactions at NXP Semiconductors, said: "We are delighted to be working with HID Global to develop this new solution. As companies continue to invest in mobile technology and security infrastructure, the partnership will bring real value and convenience to customers around the world. In addition, the combination of HID Global's iCLASS SE reader and NXP's MIFARE DESFire and NFC technology can effectively improve the interoperability of access management and accelerate the adoption of NFC applications in the enterprise."