16 Jan 2012
 
HID Global and Yale Locks have collaborated to provide new technology at CES 2012 in Las Vegas 

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 programme 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.