NXP predicts ePassports will become virtual mobile identities

PARTNER NEWS: The electronic passport could soon become a “virtual mobile identity” that will allow owners to interact with and authenticate applications, as well as send credentials to other electronic devices using NFC smartphones and wearables, according to NXP. “The ePassport is evolving from just being a travel document to being a government-issued root credential for other applications, including a virtual mobile identity,” the company says. NXP has identified virtual mobile identity as one of three “distinct” global trends for electronic passports, along with increasing functionality and stronger security.

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2 comments on this article

  1. While we attribute a great deal of confidence to passports, and while most are good, application processes in the US are so weak that they would not be adequate for many applications.

    I continue to believe that the default should be two credentials, for example, a Driver’s license and a credit card, one issued by a government agency, e.g., the DMV, a passport agency, and one by a financial institution, bank or credit union. In the US, I prefer the Driver’s license to the passport, in part because the enrollment procedures are stronger, partly because they bind the name and date of birth to the domicile address.

  2. It occurs to me that my mobile number is my “mobile identity.” There may be a few applications for which that is not adequate. However, whatever othher credentials I require will be stored in the mobile identified with that number.

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