News
LEGIC sets standards for NFC-based solutions
December 2007 by Marc Jacob
LEGIC, the manufacturer of contactless smart card systems for personal identification applications, has developed a cutting-edge technology with its card-in-card solutions. The mobile phone, already something we can’t imagine living without, will replace keys, access cards and even purses. NFC (Near Field Communication) equipped phones will be able to integrate LEGIC contactless applications, which offers endless combinations in total security for end-users. LEGIC has been paving the way with a pilot project with Swisscom and Selecta since May 2007.
LEGIC’s card-in-card solutions also enable several contactless applications to be combined on one single card: LEGIC standard applications (e.g. physical access) can be combined with third-party applications for logical access, government ID credentials, credit cards or national ticketing.
Pilot project at Swisscom: a step forward in NFC technology
LEGIC, Swisscom and Selecta are pursuing new paths with this NFC pilot project. In the Swisscom’s modern buildings in Bern, Switzerland, Swisscom staff use their mobile phones to get chilled drinks, snacks and coffee from Selecta vending machines. The partners of this pilot project intend to convert the project into a real business model. Additional applications, such as the integration of Adasoft’s secure access control applications used in all Swisscom buildings, will also be discussed.
NFC technology enables mobile phones to behave as conventional contactless cards and to connect to the network via mobile technology. Contactless applications can also work when the phone battery is empty or no network is available. The new solutions therefore combine the advantages of both technologies, providing more security, ease-of-use and availability.
Customized and cost saving LEGIC card-in-card solutions
The ability to connect a mobile phone to contactless applications is opening up endless possibilities with LEGIC’s new card-in-card solutions. As over 100 different applications can be combined and integrated into a mobile phone, solutions can be customized according to individual needs. The combination of access control to buildings and PCs via PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) thereby saves costs by using a single chip solution. For high security areas LEGIC contactless solutions can further be combined with biometric finger print solutions or pin codes.
The LEGIC Master-Token System Control thereby guarantees centralized and impenetrable control over all issued identification credentials, be it mobile phones or traditional cards, which offers higher security than password-protected systems.
Setting standards for security solutions of the future
LEGIC’s contactless smart card technology has been the world leader for several years. A valuable and active member of the NFC Forum, an organisation aimed at setting standards and advancing the use of Near Field Communication technology, LEGIC brings its broad expertise in the security area.
LEGIC is pushing the technology further forward with its card-in-card solutions. In the form of a virtual card, LEGIC functionality will be applied to dual interface cards or third party NFC mobile phones via the new embedded solution for smart card platforms.
Thanks to further extensions of LEGIC technology – there are already over 50,000 facilities with more than one million LEGIC readers in service – and to a worldwide licence partner network, the possibilities for building on existing and developing secure new, and even more comfortable solutions, are endless.
