News
HID Global Launches First University Pilot of NFC Smartphones Carrying Digital Keys for Access Control
November 2011 by Marc Jacob
HID Global announced a pilot project that showcases the benefits of using NFC smartphones for opening doors at universities and other
campus environments. The trial is underway at Arizona State University (ASU),where a group of students and staff are accessing a
campus residence hall and selected resident’s rooms using HID Global’s new iCLASS® SE™ credentials embedded into a variety of
popular smartphones connected to all major mobile networks.
ASU manages on-campus housing for approximately 13,000 students living in 34 residence halls. To implement the pilot, HID
Global deployed iCLASS SE readers on secured doors to ASU’s Palo Verde Main hall, and HID technology-enabled Sargent Profile
Series electromechanical locks from ASSA ABLOY on selected resident room doors. Participants were given NFC smartphones
carrying next-generation iCLASS SE technology that enables new levels of security, convenience, portability and performance. To
open door locks, participants present the phones to a door reader just like they do with their existing Sun Cards, which are iCLASSbased
campus credentials. All participants are using their phones for residence hall access, and some are also using them with a
unique additional digital key and PIN to open individual room doors. The technology also supports over-the-air provisioning and
management of digital keys, which simplifies administration of the access control system.
“This project highlights the promise of taking NFC technology beyond cashless payment into new, complementary physical access
control applications,” said Denis Hébert, HID Global president and CEO. “ASU is a leading innovator and long-time iCLASS user, and
now the university is helping us validate how bringing mobility to access control improves security while enhancing the user
experience by making it easier to deploy and manage keys and more convenient to carry them.With this technology, any door
that’s opened with a key or Sun Card has the potential to now be opened with a phone.”
In initial feedback, approximately 80 percent of ASU participants reported that using a smartphone to unlock a door is just as
convenient as using their campus ID card. Nearly 90 percent said they would like to use their smartphone to open all doors on
campus. While the pilot was focused on physical access, nearly all participants also expressed an interest in using their smartphone
for other campus applications including access to the student recreation center, as well as transit fare payment and meal, ticket
and merchandise purchases.
“When I first saw this technology used in other applications, I recognized the benefits it could bring to a university campus,” said
Laura Ploughe, director of business applications and fiscal control, University Business Services, at Arizona State University. “Mobile
phones are at the heart of campus life and play a major role in facilitating the students’ social connections. This project with HID
Global has proven that a ubiquitous device can converge secure identity credentials and physical access control, and endorsed the
promise that NFC technology holds within the campus environment. We were very impressed with the convenience of putting Sun
Card credentials on NFC smartphones, as well as the enhanced security that is delivered by this next-generation of advanced
access control system.”
