LAS VEGAS and BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- From
the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Verizon
Wireless is collaborating with two ASSA ABLOY companies – HID
Global and Yale Locks & Hardware – to demonstrate the benefits
of smartphones carrying mobile keys. The demonstration in the
Verizon booth (Las Vegas
Convention Center, South Hall, Booth #30259) will show how Verizon
Wireless smartphones, carrying ASSA ABLOY/HID Global Mobile Keys,
can be used to open doors fitted with Yale Real Living™ locks
featuring Near-Field Communications (NFC) technology.
The Yale Real Living line is the company's first lock family
specifically designed to integrate seamlessly into the digital
home. Yale expects to be the
first U.S. brand to offer residential locks that can be unlocked
directly using NFC-enabled mobile phones. The Yale Real
Living line will be compatible with the ASSA ABLOY/HID Global
Mobile Keys platform, a scalable, secure delivery infrastructure
for distribution and management of mobile keys. The platform
allows credentials to be distributed securely through NFC-enabled
mobile phones as an alternative to mechanical keys and physical
access cards. The CES demonstration will illustrate how an
ASSA ABLOY/HID Global Mobile Key can be issued over the air to an
NFC-enabled smartphone on the Verizon network and then used to open
an NFC-enabled Yale Real Living lock.
NFC is a short-range wireless communication technology standard
that enables the exchange of data between devices up to a
10-centimeter distance. Applications include contactless
transactions, such as keys, data transfers, including electronic
business cards, and access to online digital content, as well as
payment and ticketing. The Mobile Keys platform enabled by
the NFC technology has already been introduced to the hospitality
industry by Yale's and HID Global's
parent company, ASSA ABLOY. Verizon Wireless also recently
collaborated with HID Global on the first pilot of NFC smartphones
carrying HID Global's mobile keys for access control at a
university.
"From a residential perspective, the mobile phone is
ubiquitous," said Jason Williams,
general manager of Yale Residential. "We use it to make
reservations, schedule our day, everything. By incorporating
NFC technology into our Yale Real Living locks, we've extended the
functionality of the mobile phone even further. What's more,
we've created a highly secure product that capitalizes on ASSA
ABLOY technology that is being extremely well received in other
end-user markets. We are pleased to be working with Verizon
Wireless to demonstrate the value of mobile keys on smartphones in
its network."
"HID Global and Verizon Wireless have been working closely to
extend the value of NFC technology so that smartphones can also
carry mobile keys for opening doors," said Daniel Bailin, director of program management,
with HID Global. "Now, with our sister company, Yale Locks
& Hardware, we are again collaborating with Verizon Wireless to
demonstrate the improved security and convenience of this concept
in residential applications."
Verizon established its Innovation Program to encourage
collaboration and help advance the 4G LTE ecosystem. The
company's LTE Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass., and its Application Innovation
Center in San Francisco were
created to inspire, enable and develop non-traditional devices,
services and applications that take advantage of Verizon Wireless'
industry-leading wireless networks. Through the Innovation
Program, Verizon seeks to expand the possibilities of 4G LTE by
working with diverse companies, from start-ups to established
players, in industries representing a broad range of verticals.
For more information about Verizon at CES, visit
www.verizonwireless.com/ces or follow Verizon Wireless news on
Twitter at @VZWnews. Visit www.yalelocks.com for more
information about Yale Locks & Hardware and www.hidglobal.com
for more information about HID Global.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network
and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 107.7
million total wireless connections, including 90.7 million retail
customers. Headquartered in Basking
Ridge, N.J., with nearly 83,000 employees nationwide,
Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications
(NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more
information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request
broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of
Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless
Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
About Yale
Yale Locks & Hardware is recognized worldwide as a leader
and innovator in the architectural hardware industry, with millions
of Yale products used in over 125
countries. Backed by over 150 years of quality and
customer-oriented service, Yale offers
a complete selection of door hardware for residential and
commercial applications.
About HID Global
HID Global is the trusted source for secure identity solutions
for millions of customers around the world. Recognized for robust
quality, innovative designs and industry leadership, HID Global is
the supplier of choice for OEMs, system integrators, and
application developers serving a variety of markets. These markets
include physical and logical access control, including strong
authentication and credential management; card printing and
personalization; highly secure government ID; and identification
technologies used in animal ID and industry and logistics
applications. The company's primary brands include HID®,
ActivIdentity®, FARGO®, and LaserCard®. Headquartered in
Irvine, California, HID Global has
over 2,100 employees worldwide and operates international offices
that support more than 100 countries. HID Global is an ASSA ABLOY
Group brand. For more information, visit www.hidglobal.com.
About ASSA ABLOY
ASSA ABLOY is the world's largest lock company and a recognized
global leader in door opening solutions, dedicated to satisfying
end-user demands for security, safety and convenience.
SOURCE Verizon Wireless