Banking-grade security features embedded into next-generation VingCard RFID electronic locks are the latest enhancement revealed this week by hotel industry security firm ASSA ABLOY Hospitality, working in collaboration with NXP Semiconductors’ MIFARE Plus EV1 Smart Card.
The move simplifies communications between the lock and staff smart cards, allowing for more efficient monitoring and lock management. Long-standing legacy lock technology has been upgraded as part of the move.
Hotels running the MIFARE Classic product will be progressively migrated over to the new technology in coming weeks. The new software continues to support existing systems, meaning hotels should not see any reduction or impact to performance during the upgrade transition, through which hotels will be guided on a step-by-step basis.
NXP Semiconductors Segment Manager Smart City Christian Lackner said the latest contactless IC’s employed by ASSA ABLOY will further boost its standard of security.
“With this implementation, our two companies are now working even closer together to innovate the hotel industry by maximizing keycard security and overall property technology,” Lackner said.
Once the transition is complete, new keycards will carry a more visible ingredient branding logo, helping not just to identify the partnership between ASSA ABLOY and NXP, but will also help hotels to more clearly identify and separate genuine smart cards from any fraudulent copies.
ASSA ABLOY Hospitality General Manager SW & Credentials Eric Thomsen added: “MIFARE Plus EV1 is the perfect enhancement for our standard guest cards. This technological enhancement will allow us to continuously address today’s needs, while creating an efficient and future-proof solution that will meet tomorrow’s.”