06 November, 2006
category: Contactless, Corporate, NFC
One of the hospitality industry’s newest innovations, an electronic-locking solution provided by VingCard, has been recognized for its adaptation of RFID technology for access control and remote check-in. Hotels are now able to send a booking confirmation number, room number and an encrypted room key via SMS (Short Message System) to a guest’s NFC-cell phone thanks to the company’s RFID solution.
PARIS– Equip’Hotel 2006, the biggest hotel trade show in the world, has presented the award for “Best Innovation of the Year” to VingCard for its new Signature RFID electronic-locking solution which communicates with guests’ cell phones to provide guest room access.
“For the first time in lodging history, guests will be able to use their Near Field Communications (NFC) compatible cell phones to open their guestroom doors”, said Mrs. Valérie Lobry, Director of E QUIP’HOTEL. “At EQUIP’HOTEL, we do not judge `innovation’ by technology development alone. Rather we take into consideration the significant impact that technology has upon the hospitality industry and its guests. Signature RFID by VingCard with NFC-compatible cell phones opens a new era in customer satisfaction and efficiency at check-in/check-out. This solution truly stood out from among the many applications that compete every year for this prestigious award. We congratulate VingCard and all those associated with its development.”
Pascal Metivier, president of ASSA ABLOY Hospitality EMEA and Latin America, said VingCard is very proud to have been chosen to receive this prestigious award.
“We’re very pleased with the number of hotel companies and chains calling us to inquire about the release of Signature RFID,” Metivier said. “Winning this award substantiates that the research and development that went into this project was worth the effort. Thanks to a collaborative effort with NXP and major cell phone manufacturers, we have become the first hospitality security company to bring NFC technology for access control via cell phones to life.”
Partnership breeds innovation
Through a joint collaboration with NXP (formerly Philips Semiconductors), hotels equipped with VingCard RFID locks will be able to offer remote check-in. Guests will receive booking confirmation number, room number and an encrypted room key access code through SMS (Short Message System), prior to the arrival at the hotel, and they will avoid long lines at check-in going straight to the room. Guest will open the room with their NFC-cell phone.
“Since Signature RFID made its debut at the hotel show in Dubai show and HITEC [Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference] in June 2006, the industry around the world has been buzzing with talk about the benefits that RFID technology brings to hotels and to hotel guests,” Metivier said. “Signature RFID is developed as an open-platform RFID lock that is design centric, guest friendly and compatible with the leading RFID ISO standards (ISO 14443 A-MIFARE, ISO 14443 B, ISO 15693) and the new NFC (Near Field Communication) secure transaction platform.”
Part of Signature RFID’s appeal stems from its open-platform architecture, Metivier said. Earlier systems, and those offered by other hospitality security vendors, are not compliant with all the leading RFID standards, secure transaction protocols, or compatible with the other RFID devices.
“Hotels do not want to invest in RFID if they are limited to one standard,” Metivier said. “We designed Signature RFID to support all the leading standards for maximum flexibility. Now the customer can choose what is best for their application. With Signature RFID, you avoid the risk of making the wrong choice on what RFID standard to follow. It is the same scenario as in the past with the VHS and BETA standards for video tapes.”
“VingCard always has been focused on providing the best security technologies to protect guests’ valuables and owners’ assets,” Metivier said. “We sincerely value our customers and the feedback that they provide to us regarding our products and services and Signature RFID by VingCard is the result of what our customers asked us for. At VingCard Elsafe, we listen.” For more information on VingCard Elsafe, visit www.vingcard.com or www.elsafe.com.
Near Field Communications News and InsightExplore more developments dealing with the implementation of Near Field Communications, a short-range wireless technology that promises to revolutionize contactless identification, payment, access, and more. Click to visit NFCNews.
