HID Global and Yale Locks Open Doors With Verizon Wireless Smartphones at 2012 CES

LAS VEGAS and BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Jan. 10, 2012  /PRNewswire/ -- From the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Verizon Wireless is collaborating with two ASSA ABLOY companies – HID Global and Yale Locks & Hardware – to demonstrate the benefits of smartphones carrying mobile keys.  The demonstration in the Verizon booth (Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall, Booth #30259) will show how Verizon Wireless smartphones, carrying ASSA ABLOY/HID Global Mobile Keys, can be used to open doors fitted with Yale Real Living™ locks featuring Near-Field Communications (NFC) technology.

The Yale Real Living line is the company's first lock family specifically designed to integrate seamlessly into the digital home.  Yale expects to be the first U.S. brand to offer residential locks that can be unlocked directly using NFC-enabled mobile phones.  The Yale Real Living line will be compatible with the ASSA ABLOY/HID Global Mobile Keys platform, a scalable, secure delivery infrastructure for distribution and management of mobile keys.  The platform allows credentials to be distributed securely through NFC-enabled mobile phones as an alternative to mechanical keys and physical access cards.  The CES demonstration will illustrate how an ASSA ABLOY/HID Global Mobile Key can be issued over the air to an NFC-enabled smartphone on the Verizon network and then used to open an NFC-enabled Yale Real Living lock.

NFC is a short-range wireless communication technology standard that enables the exchange of data between devices up to a 10-centimeter distance.  Applications include contactless transactions, such as keys, data transfers, including electronic business cards, and access to online digital content, as well as payment and ticketing.  The Mobile Keys platform enabled by the NFC technology has already been introduced to the hospitality industry by Yale's and HID Global's parent company, ASSA ABLOY.  Verizon Wireless also recently collaborated with HID Global on the first pilot of NFC smartphones carrying HID Global's mobile keys for access control at a university. 

"From a residential perspective, the mobile phone is ubiquitous," said Jason Williams, general manager of Yale Residential.  "We use it to make reservations, schedule our day, everything.  By incorporating NFC technology into our Yale Real Living locks, we've extended the functionality of the mobile phone even further.  What's more, we've created a highly secure product that capitalizes on ASSA ABLOY technology that is being extremely well received in other end-user markets.  We are pleased to be working with Verizon Wireless to demonstrate the value of mobile keys on smartphones in its network." 

"HID Global and Verizon Wireless have been working closely to extend the value of NFC technology so that smartphones can also carry mobile keys for opening doors," said Daniel Bailin, director of program management, with HID Global.  "Now, with our sister company, Yale Locks & Hardware, we are again collaborating with Verizon Wireless to demonstrate the improved security and convenience of this concept in residential applications." 

Verizon established its Innovation Program to encourage collaboration and help advance the 4G LTE ecosystem.  The company's LTE Innovation Center in Waltham, Mass., and its Application Innovation Center in San Francisco were created to inspire, enable and develop non-traditional devices, services and applications that take advantage of Verizon Wireless' industry-leading wireless networks.  Through the Innovation Program, Verizon seeks to expand the possibilities of 4G LTE by working with diverse companies, from start-ups to established players, in industries representing a broad range of verticals.

 For more information about Verizon at CES, visit www.verizonwireless.com/ces or follow Verizon Wireless news on Twitter at @VZWnews.  Visit www.yalelocks.com for more information about Yale Locks & Hardware and www.hidglobal.com for more information about HID Global.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless operates the nation's largest 4G LTE network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 107.7 million total wireless connections, including 90.7 million retail customers.  Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with nearly 83,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD).  For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.    

About Yale

Yale Locks & Hardware is recognized worldwide as a leader and innovator in the architectural hardware industry, with millions of Yale products used in over 125 countries.  Backed by over 150 years of quality and customer-oriented service, Yale offers a complete selection of door hardware for residential and commercial applications.

About HID Global

HID Global is the trusted source for secure identity solutions for millions of customers around the world. Recognized for robust quality, innovative designs and industry leadership, HID Global is the supplier of choice for OEMs, system integrators, and application developers serving a variety of markets. These markets include physical and logical access control, including strong authentication and credential management; card printing and personalization; highly secure government ID; and identification technologies used in animal ID and industry and logistics applications. The company's primary brands include HID®, ActivIdentity®, FARGO®, and LaserCard®. Headquartered in Irvine, California, HID Global has over 2,100 employees worldwide and operates international offices that support more than 100 countries. HID Global is an ASSA ABLOY Group brand. For more information, visit www.hidglobal.com.

About ASSA ABLOY 

ASSA ABLOY is the world's largest lock company and a recognized global leader in door opening solutions, dedicated to satisfying end-user demands for security, safety and convenience.

SOURCE Verizon Wireless