Hospitality Net

Hospitality’s newest electronic-locking solution to showcase benefits of RFID technology for remote check-in; Hotels and hotel chains will be able to send booking confirmation number, room number and an encrypted room key via SMS (Short Message System) to a guests’ NFC-cell phone; Solution to demo at Hostelco in Barcelona, Equiphotel in Paris and IH/M&R show in New York

PARIS | VingCard continues to unlock the future of RFID technology with its newest electronic-locking solution Signature RFID. For the first time in lodging history, guests will be able to use their Near Field Communications (NFC) compliant cell phones to open their guestroom doors. The solution will demo at Hostelco in Barcelona, Oct. 21-25 (Pabellon 5, Nivel 0, A15), Equip´Hôtel in Paris Nov. 5-9 (Hall 7.1/Stand n° L26), and the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York, Nov. 12-14 (Booth No. 3138).

NFC is the new short-range wireless technology that combines the functionality of a reader and a card into one device, and it is being implemented in new generation cell phones this year. Through a joint collaboration with NXP (formerly Philips semiconductors) (NYSE: PHG, AEX, PHI), hotels equipped with VingCard RFID lo will be able to offer remote check-in. Guests will receive bookin confirmation number, room number and an encrypted room key access code through SMS (Short Message System), prior to the arrival at the hotel, and they will avoid long lines at check-in going straight to the room. Guest will open the room with their NFC-cell phone.

“Since Signature RFID made its debut at the hotel show in Dubai show and HITEC [Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference] in June 2006, the industry around the world has been buzzing with talk about the benefits that RFID technology brings to hotels and to hotel guests,” said Pascal Metivier, president of ASSA ABLOY Hospitality EMEA and Latin America. “Signature RFID is developed as an open-platform RFID lock that is design centric, guest friendly and compatible with the leading RFID ISO standards (ISO 14443 A-MIFARE, ISO 14443 B, ISO 15693) and the new NFC (Near Field Communication) secure transaction platform.

“We’re very pleased with the number of hotel companies and hotel chains calling us to inquire about the release of Signature RFID,” he added. “We’re equally proud to be the first hospitality security company to bring NFC technology for access control via cell phones to the hospitality industry, thanks to our partnership with NXP. A combined effort was launched between NXP and the major cell phone manufacturers to bring this to life is commended.

Part of Signature RFID’s appeal stems from its open-platform architecture, Metivier said. Earlier systems, and those offered by other hospitality security vendors, are not compliant with all the leading RFID standards, secure transaction protocols, or compatible with the other RFID devices.

”Hotels do not want to invest in RFID if they are limited to one standard,” Metivier said. “We designed Signature RFID to support all the leading standards for maximum flexibility. Now the customer can choose what is best for their application. With Signature RFID, you avoid the risk of making the wrong choice on what RFID standard to follow. It is the same scenario as in the past with the VHS and BETA standards for video tapes.”

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Signature RFID is modeled from Signature by VingCard (a card-based system which made its debut at the IH/M&R Show in 2005) in which only the key-card reader and door handle are visible, enabling the door hardware to blend in with the hotel environment.

Also like Signature, the system’s design flexibility offers different aesthetic finishes and colors to be applied to the RFID reader. Designers’ Collection handles also are available. Signature RFID provides a new, interactive experience to guests while enhancing the image and design of your hotel environment.

“VingCard always has been focused on providing the best security technologies to protect guests’ valuables and owners’ assets,” Metivier said. “We are proud of Signature and Signature RFID and the convenience these solutions offer to guests and the brand differentiation afforded to our customer hotels. We sincerely value our customers and the feedback that they provide to us regarding our products and services. At VingCard Elsafe, we listen.”

About VingCard Elsafe | The world leader in hotel security technology, ASSA ABLOY Hospitality has products installed in more than 33,000 properties worldwide, securing in excess of 5.5 million hotel rooms. The ASSA ABLOY Group, a publicly listed company, is a world leader in security and hospitality systems. VingCard provides numerous electronic-locking system solutions, including traditional magnetic-stripe and smartcard systems, fully integrated PMS interface software solutions and worldwide service and support. Elsafe provides the first UL-listed (1037) hotel safe series on the market today in keypad and cardbased models. Safes that include an internal power outlet to support recharging of laptops and camcorders also are available with a UL listing. Elsafe customers also enjoy the same worldwide service and support. The ASSA ABLOY Hospitality Group is dedicated to the hospitality industry. For more information on VingCard Elsafe, visit www.vingcard.com or www.elsafe.com.

About NXP | NXP is a top 10 semiconductor company founded by Philips more than 50 years ago. Headquartered in Europe, the company has 37,000 employees working in 20 countries across the world. NXP creates semiconductors, system solutions and software that deliver better sensory experiences in mobile phones, personal media players, TVs, set-top boxes, identification applications, cars and a wide range of other electronic devices. News from NXP is located at www.NXP.com.

About Near Field Communication (NFC) | NFC technology evolved from a combination of contact-less identification (RFID) and interconnection technologies. NFC operates in the 13.56 MHz frequency range, over a distance of typically a few centimeters. NFC technology is standardized in ISO 18092, ISO 21481, ECMA (340, 352 and 356) and ETSI TS 102 190. NFC is compatible with Sony's FeliCa™ card and the broadly established contact-less smart card infrastructure based on ISO 14443 A, which is used in Philips' MIFARE® technology. www.nfc-forum.org.