Matica Technologies announced its new standalone laser engraving card printer; ImageWare Systems introduced GoVerifyID Enterprise Suite; MediaConcepts has integrated its mobile application with SALTO; Kantara and the European Association for E-identity and Security executed a Memorandum of Understanding.

The Nymi band has received a lot of attention since it was first announced three-years ago. The wearable, biometric band uses an individual’s electro cardiogram for authentication and then transmits the credential using NFC or BLE for physical or logical access.

Phil Dumas went on ABC’s Shark Tank to get funding for Unikey, his company that focuses on the user experience with mobile physical access control. Unikey has been focused on the residential market but is starting to expand into the commercial arena.

The spread of mobile is driving demand for creative mash-ups of proximity-based technologies. That’s why tech incubator AccelerateNFC and proximity ID company Flomio created TrackHack: The Proximity ID Hackathon.

Hotels chains are exploring the use of NFC and Bluetooth Low Energy for guest access. Using these different technologies can offer hoteliers different benefits, including additional security, multi-application support and form-factor independence.

Tractica examines the iris biometric market and its growth; NEC Corp. selected by the Brazilian National Tax Collection Agency to provide NeoFace Watch facial recognition technology for 14 international airports throughout Brazil; the FIDO Alliance entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Bluetooth Special Interest Group to use Bluetooth Smart as an alternative to a USB dongle for authentication.

Facial recognition biometrics is experiencing a period of growth; the FIDO Alliance adds NFC and Bluetooth to the FIDO 1.0 specifications; Precise Biometrics partnered with Fingerprint Cards to have Precise BioMatch Mobile integrated into two new smartphones from Chinese manufacturers.

MicroStrategy Usher is enabling enterprises to use the Apple Watch for access to logical and physical resources. The system is also designed to ease security administration capabilities.

Sesame, a new smart lock, has surpassed $1 million in pledges with just under two weeks to go in its Kickstarter campaign. The system enables homeowners to use their smartphone and Bluetooth low energy to easily unlock their doors.

HID Global is piloting Mobile Access on both sides of the world, enabling virtually any smartphone to function as a physical access control credential using either near field communication or Bluetooth low energy.