Mobile Access Control

“Mobile access” refers to using a smartphone to identify a person and to enable a person to gain access and entrance. This is a popular concept that is being supported by a growing number of products and is a driver for change in the security industry. It has applications in all segments of the market including event ticketing, public transport, customer loyalty and just about every application that is used to identify people. Home use allows contractors and nannies access, commercial use allows for any area of the office to be reserved for specific users, hotel use enables keys to be sent while on the way from the airport saving time at check in and out, residential properties can enable both residents and visitors easy access, warehouses that deal with high value or confidential materials can be better secured. There are countless applications such as cashless vending, parking gates, network and printer access adding flexibility, accountability and reduced vulnerability to the vetting process.

Why is mobile access getting so popular? One reason is that it takes away the burden of physical distribution and management of cards. A virtual card on a mobile device can be sent to that device using an internet connection. Enabling and disabling cards is easily done saving time and money. The virtual card is saved on the phone so it is easier to carry and can make use of other phone technologies like cameras, GPS and even fingerprint scanning.  

Mobile phones make use of Bluetooth technology, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), enabling the device to communicate within a range of several feet and having the bandwidth to set up a secure communication, more than the few inches supported by Near Field Communication (NFC).

So what are the downsides of mobile access? Both BLE and NFC technologies are under continuous development making it imperative for vendors to keep up with those changes. Some employees use their personal phones not managed by their employer and some employees will not prefer or be able to use a smartphone for this application so it is clear that smartphones and RFID cards will coexist for some time. Mobile must support that combination.  

So time and money savings, flexibility, ease of management and accountability and the pervasive presence and use of smartphones make this a rapidly embraced application. Surveillance Secure works with all of its manufacturers to stay abreast of these developments and to bring the best value and sensible choice to our clients keeping them at the forefront of their industries.