Hospitality Chain Implements OpenWays Pure NFC Technology

By Ariel Jones

OpenWays, in cooperation with Nokia and NXP, announced that its Mobile Key with Pure NFC solution will replace plastic key cards in Nordic Choice Hotels. The Mobile Key application leverages a smartphone's built-in near field communications (NFC) technology, in combination with Crypto Acoustic Credential (CAC) technology and radiofrequency identification (RFID).

With the Mobile Key DUAL with Pure NFC application installed on their smartphones, guests are able to wave their device in front of a door lock to open it, bypassing the standard key system. "Mobile Key works today with all cell phones worldwide," said Pascal Metivier, founder and CEO of OpenWays. "With NFC-enabled cell phones gradually hitting the market in larger volumes during 2012 and 2013, we are pleased to announce Mobile Key DUAL with Pure NFC."

The NFC was implemented in a pilot trial in Nordic Choice Hotels in 2010, which helped identify areas of improvement that were needed before NFC could be considered a viable solution within a hospitality environment. Firstly, NFC is a feature on a variety of phones, from a variety of manufacturers and carriers; so one goal of the NFC solution was to bypass the SWP protocol which would make the solution operator- and carrier-dependent.

OpenWays also offers mobile key solutions with CAC technology, which is currently being deployed by Nordic Choice Hotels; their newest solution employes CAC technology in conjunction with NFC technology, building in an infrastructure for future NFC expansion. Specific RFID antennas were also installed to provide high reading performance. Mobile Key DUAL with Pure NFC works with all phones, carriers, and networks (including 2G, 3G, 4G, and the hotel's own wi-fi network), and provides security through modern cryptology and highly secured one-time password principles.

"Mobile Key DUAL combines the established and highly ubiquitous CAC technology with both RFID and NFC technologies so we can offer the only 'fully deployable today' while 'fully future proof' solution to our customers," Metivier said.

"Mobile Key DUAL with Pure NFC is a solution that is going to be 'new for a long time' and will also be applied to many other market segments outside the hospitality industry, such as residential, commercial buildings, university campuses, and more."