Employee ID card giant HID Global has launched a new access control platform that makes it possible to issue ID “cards” in a wide array of different formats, including on NFC phones.

The new system is based on the concept of technology-independent digital credentials, known as Secure Identity Objects (SIOs), that can be deployed on everything from smartphones and microprocessor-based chip cards to contactless smart cards, USB tokens and other devices.

“By enabling a new class of portable identity credentials that can be securely provisioned and safely embedded into both fixed and mobile devices, HID Global’s next-generation platform will provide advanced security and performance functionality while enabling the use of virtual credentials on mobile devices,” says the company. “They will also enable users to add levels of security, customize security protection, and extend system capabilities without having to overhaul the device infrastructure and applications.”

The new iClass SE platform “represents a significant milestone in the advancement of our secure identity strategy, because it provides a standards-based platform for implementing exciting new applications for NFC-enabled mobile phones,” says Dr Selva Selvaratnam, senior vice president and chief technology officer at HID Global.

The platform is supported by a range of iClass SE readers and cards and a developer tool kit is also available. Readers can also download a white paper describing the new system in more detail from HID Global’s website.

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