Mobile Access Control Guide
One of the biggest trends in access for the last few years has been the marriage of mobile phones and access cards. But how does this work?
Based on our mobile access control shootout, in this guide, we examine:
- BLE vs NFC vs Apps comparison
- Why many access systems use multiple methods
- Mobile pricing compared
- Mobile access OEMs are common
- Limited reader model selection typical
Plus we detail factors that may limit mobile's appeal for some users:
- Cards & Fobs Are Inexpensive
- 'Bring Your Own Device' (BYOD) Can Be Awkward
- Ongoing Service Billing
- Awkward or No Picture IDs
- Battery Power Limitations
Mobile *********** ***********
***** ****** ******* ** *********** ** open ***** *** * *** **** factor.
** **** *****, *** ***** *** not **** ** ** ******** ** app ********* ** ***** ** **** a ****, **** **** ***** ********* or ***** ******** ***** ****** ** send ******* **** ********** ****.
******* ** ******** * ****, ***, PIN, ** *********** ** * ******, a **** ******* * ***** ** activates ** *** *** *** **** is ********.
***** ** *** ****** ******** ***** of ******, *** **** **** **** accompany ***** **** ****, *******, ** ID ***** *** **** *** *** easily **** ** ********* **** **** good ********* **** ************.
Three ***** ****** *******
** ***** ** *******, ***** ****** methods ** ****** *********** *** **** in ******:
- *** (********* *** ******)
- *** (**** ***** *************)
- *** ***** ***********
Mobile ********** ****** **********
************ ***** ****** ** **** ***** a *** ********** *** ******* ****** access ***********. ** *******, ****** ************ data ****** **** ****** *****/*** **** methods *** ********* **** ***** *******, with **** ****** ****** ********* *********** and ********.
*** ********* ***** ***** *** ***** differences ******* *****:
*** *******, ****** *** ********** ** Range ******* *** ***** *******. ***** NFC ***** ** ***** (********* **** than * ******), *** ***** *** BLE ** ****** ** ~*** ****, while *** ******* *********** **** ****** only ******* ** **-** *** ******** connectivity.
** ***** *****, ***** ****** ** used ******* *********** ***. *** *******, with *** ******, ***** *** ** less ******** *** ********** ** *** reader **** ***, *** ******* ********* phone ***** *** ***** ***** ****** is ******* ****, ******* **** ********** is ***** ********** ** ***** ****** access ****** **** ***.
Many ****** ******* *** ******** *******
** ***** ** ******** *** ******** of * ********** ******, **** ****** access ******* *********** ******** ****** ******* in ***** *******.
*** *******,*** ********** **** *** ** ***, ***************** *** *****. *** ********* ******* depend ** *** ****** ** ********** into *** ****** ********, ** ** the **** ********** ********************* (***) ***** **. ****** **** *** *** **** underlying *******, *** ********** ***** *** and *** **. *** **** *** the ****** *******.
***** *** ** *** ******* **** support **** ***********, **** ******* *********** directly **** ******* **********,** *** **-** ** *********** ** the ******.
BLE (********* *** ******)
*** ** *** **** ****** ****** mobile ****** ******, ******** ** ****** all ****** ****** *** ****** ****** products.
* *** ******* ** **** *** licensing ***** *** **** ** *** cost ******** ** ***, *** ************* expend ****** ***** ** ******* *** compliant **** ********** ** ******* ****.
** ***** ** **********, *** ******** device ***** ** ********, ** **** phone ********* *** * *********** *** often ******* ****** ********** ******* **** cards, ****, ** **** ** ** used.
*** *** ****** *** **** ****** method ** ****** *************, ***** ******** engineering ********* ********** *** ***/** *** licensing *****. **** ********-***** ******** **********,****, *** ***** ********** *** *** to ******* ***********.
NFC (**** ***** *************)
*** ********* ** ****** ** *****, with ******* ****** ******** ******** ***************, but *****/******* ***** **************** ******* **** *** **** **** ****** access.
** ***** ** *********, *** ********* the ********** ** ***** ***** ** use * **********. **** ** *** chip *** **** ******* ** ** access **********, ** *** ** **** in * ******* **** *** ***** energized ** *******, * ******* ******* BLE ** **** *****.
***** ****** ******* *** ** *** applications **** *******, ******* *****, *** mass *******, *** *** ** ***** fragmented ****** *** ** *** ********* BLE ** **** ****** ****.
App *****
*** *** ****** ***** *** **** in ******* ********-***** ********* *************, *** *** ******** **** ********** platforms *********,********* ****,****,********,*****, *** ******.
*** ***** ** ***** ***** * 'Tap **** ** ******' ****** ********* as ********** **** ********* ******:
***** **** ******, ****** *** **-** to *********** **** ******* ** ******** interface **** ********* **** ***********.
**** ********* *** ******* ******** ******** to ***** ****** ****** *** *** or ******* *********, ***. ** **** controllers.
Pricing *** ****** ****** *******
*** **** ** ****** ****** ** exist ****** ********* ******** ***** ******* (often ********* ***** ****) *** * software / ********* ****.
******* *** ******* ********* ***** ~$*** - $*** ****.
******** / ********* **** ****** *************:
- *** **** ******** ******* ***: **** is ********* *** ***** ********* ******* typical ****** **** ******* **** ********* Data *** ****** ********* ******** ***** $10 *** ******, *** **** ****.
- ******* ******** ******* *** *** ******: OpenPath *** ***** ****** * ******* fee *** ****** ** $**. ***** a ****** ***** ** ** ******* (or ****) *** ******, **** ** an ********* **** ** * *** dollars *** ***** *** ******.
- ******* ******** ******* *** *** ******: This ** ********* *** **** ********* overall ****** **** ******* **** *** and ***** ********* ******** $* ** more *** ****** *** *****.
** *** **** *** ** ****** licensing, **** $**+ ** **** *** year *** ******, ********** ***** *** increase *** ** **** ******** ** conventional ******** *********** **** ***** **** $2 ** $* **** ***, ** average, **** ** ***** * ****, if *** ******** *****.
Mobile ****** **** ******
***** ****** ******* ******* *** ******* labeled/OEM'd ********* *** ***** ****** ****** offerings.
*** *******, *** ****** ****** ***** use ***** *********:
**** ******** ********** ****** ****** ****, often *** ***** ****** **** ***** vendors, *** ***** ******** * ****** system *** *** **** ***** ** licensing *** ***********, *** ********* ***********.
Limited ****** ***** *********
** ******* ********** ** ****** ****** is **** **** * *** ******* are **********, ***** *** ***** ********* and **** *** *** ****** ** connected ** * **** ********** *** Wiegand ** ****.
*** ********** ***** ***** **** *** shootout ***** *** ********* ** ******** reader ****, *** ****** *********** ***** like ******* ****** *** *** ** possible ***** ** ***** ******* ** used:
** **** *****, **** ******* ******, * ****** ** **** ******, card ********** ****** *******, *** ******* vs. **** ********** ******* *** ********* because *** ****** *** ** ****** line ** ****** **********.
*******, ******* *** ************* ******* **** a ****** ********** **** ******** **** *** ****, *** *** and *******-**** ***** *********.
Management & ***** ********* ********
************* *** ******** ****** ****** ** not ****** *** ********** ****** *******.
* ***** ** ********** *** ****** control ********** ****** **** ** **** are *** ********* ******* **** *********** credential *******. ***** *******:
- ***** & **** *** ***********
- '***** **** *** ******' (****) *** Be *******
- ******* ******* *******
- ******* ** ** ******* ***
- ******* ***** ***********
Cards & **** *** ***********
****** ******, **** *********** ****, *** roughly *** - *** *** **** of * ****. *** *** **** of *********** * ***** ** **** higher, ********* ******** ********* *** ******** updates ***** * **** ******* **** inexpensive *** *********** **** ** ******** once ******.
** * **** ****** ** ** lost, *** ******** ******** * $** piece ** *******, ***** ** * phone ****** ** ** ****, ******* must *** ******** ** ******* ** replace **.
'Bring **** *** ******' (****) *** ** *******
** **** *****, ********* **** *** be ****** ******** ******. *********, '***** Your *** ******', ** ****** ***** to ******** ***** ******** ****** *** commercial **** ******** ******** ********.
****** *** ***** **** *** ********** network ******** ** **********, ** ******* or *** ***** ****** *** ******* to ****** ******** ************ *** ******* management ********* ** ******** *******.
Ongoing ******* *******
******* *********** ***** ** **** ******* if *** ***** **** ** ******?
** ******* ************* ****** *** ************** of *********, **** ** **** ****** enter **** ********* ** * ******? Or **** ********* ****** *******?
****** ***, *** ******** ****** * new ****** ** ** *********** *** otherwise ****** ** ****** *********** *** not ****.
****** ******** ***** **** *** ***** printed **** *** ****'* *******, ****, and ***** ******** ******* **** ** Codes ** **********, ***** *** ****** or ******** **** ***** **** ******.
******* *** *** * ****** ** identity ************ *** ***** ******** *****, where ** * ****** ****** *** match *** ******* ** * **** to *** ****** ********** ** *** access.
************* *** ****** ****** **** ** made ********* ** ********* ******, ***** require ***** ** **** ***** ******** or ***** ***** *** ***** **** is ******.
******** **** ****** ******** ** ********* unlocking *** ****** *** ** ******** for ****** *****, *** ***** ******** is *********, ******* ********** *** **** to ****** *** ***** *** ******** some ** *** '****** ******' *****.
Battery ***** ***********
**** ******** ** ***** ** ******* life *** ****** **** ******, *** their ******* ** ******** *********** ******** to ********* ********** **** ** *****:
******, ******* *****, ********* *********, ******** function, *** **** *****-******* ******* *** mitigated ****** **** *****.
Mobile ****** ********
*** * ******** **** ** **** of *** ******* ****** ****** *********, see ********* ****** ******* ************* ** ******* *** *** ********* and ********** ** ****.
***** **** ******* ** **** ** those ********* ** *** ****** ****** test ******:
**!
***** *** ******* *'** **** *** resold ** ** **********, *** **** are *** **** ****** ***** ****. I *** *** *** *** ******** at *** ** *******.
* ***'* ***** *** **** **** HID ******* *** ***** ***** ** phone *****, ******. ***'** **** ** buy *** ****** *** *****. ******* I've **** *** *** ** ****** versions ** ******* ** ****.
*** ** *** ****** ** ****** access ************ *** ******? ** *** my ************* ** ** **** ******* with ****** **** **** *** ********** (I ***** ******** *** ***** **** support ****** ************). ** *** **** any **** *** **** *** ** the ****?
* ******* ****** ** ****** ******** for ****** ** *********** *******, ********** for ******-*** **********.
******* *********** ******* ******** **** *** lots ** ***********, ******** ** * single ***** ****, (**** **** **** or *****) *** ********* ******* ** these ****** *** **** ***** ***** - **** ** *** ***'** ***** see *********** ******* ** ****, ** help ****** ** ********* *** **** of *** ****.
*** ** ** **** ********** **** me ** * ****** **** ***** mobile *********** ******* **** ****. *** entire ******* ** *****-**, **** ******, and *****-*** *** **** *** *** app.
****** ****** *** ********* ********** ** downloading ** *** ** ****** ****** (marketing '***' ** '*******' *****, ******** booking ******, ***), **** ********* *** 'cool ******' ** ****** **** ***** business *********, *** ****** *********/********** ** many ******.
*** *** ******* **** ****** ***** credentials ************* ****** **** *** ***** guest ***** *** **** ******* **** as **** *****?
** *** ******** ******* *** * partner ** ***** *** ***** *********** system ** *** ** *** ********. We **** ***** * ****** ** each ***** ****. *** ******** **** book ****** *** ******* * ** code ** **** *** **** **** they ******. ********* *** **** **** works ****** ***** ******** ** ****. If **** ****** ** ******* *** hotel *****, **** *** **** * video **** **** *** ******. ** the ***** **.***% ** *** **** that *** ****** ** ***** *******, it *** ******* * ***** **.
*** ****** ******* **** ********** ****** the *********** ****.
********, ** *** ** ***** *** readers ******* * ******** ******** ****?
*** **** *** ******** *********** **** phones?
**'* ** *********** ****. **** ** the ******* **'** ****** ******* * feature **** ****.
*’* ******* *** ** **** **** would **** ***** ********* ** * person ******** ** * ****** **** a **** ***** :)
*** **** ** ** *** **** battery ** ****, ***** *** **** on *** *** ********** ** ***** phones *** ****** ** *** **** enough ** *** ******.
** ******, ** *****'* ****** ****, and *** **** ** *** ******** in ********** ******** ** **** ****.
** ** *** ****** ****** ** a *****?
** ** *** ***’* ****** ****** card ******* **** *** ******?
** ** *** ****** ****** ** a *****?
**. **** *********, *** *** ** a ******** ************ ****** *** *** own.
***** *** *********** *** *** ****, i ****** ** * ****** ****** would ***** *** *** **** ** a **** ********** ******* ***** ******. though * ******* ** ******’* ******* as ** ******’* ********** *** *******.
**** ** *** **** ** ********** ****** ******* **** ***/****** ************* of **** ****:
**'* ***********. **************** ******(**** ***** ***) ******** *** *** chip ** ******* ****** ** *******, apparently ************* ** *** ******, *** he ***** ** '* **** *** * ****' **** physically ******** * ***** **** *** modification ** ***'* ********* ****:
*******, ** *** *** *** ******** was * **** *** * ****. Only ******* **** *** *** *********** could **** ** ******** **. *******, I *** ** ****** *** **********.*** (remount *** **** ****** ** **) system **** *** ******* *** ********* of *** ***********. **** ***** **********, enable ****** *********. **** ***** * mifare ******/****** (*** *****), * ****** the **** (******* *** ******, ** my **** ****** *) **** *** phone.In *******, * ***** *** ***** ** * ****** ** ****. **** **, * ****** ** ** **** ** *** *****. *** ***'* **************** *** ****.
** *** ***, *** ****** ****** 'Although * ****** ** ********, ** is *** ******** *** **********.' ***********, * ****** ** *** ***** MIFARE ******* (*** ****** ** *** list *** ******) ** ******* ***; which *** '*******' ******* *** *** DESFire ***. [****: *** ** ******** used ** * *** **** ** still ********* *** ******, **** '******' keys.]
* ** *** ******** ****** **** the ********* ******** ** ******* ** whether ** *** ***-*** ******* *** read ******** ****** ** ******* ******* without ********.
*** ***** « ***********, * ****** he *** ***** ****** ******* (*** format ** *** **** *** ******) or ******* ***; ***** *** '*******' formats *** *** ******* *** »
****** ******* *** ******** ******* *** Desfire *** *** ***** *******, ** my *********. ****** ******* **** *********** if *** **** ** (******* *** is *** *** **** ***** ** Mifare *******, ***** *** *******)
**, ****'* * **** *****. *** is **** ********* **** *** ****** key ** ***** (** ** *** default *** ** ****, ***** ***** it ********** *** **** ** '*******').
*** ********* *** ***** ******** ****** detect ***** ****, *** *** ***** must ********* ** ********. ** **** value ** *****, **** *** ****** can ** **********.
** ** ** ************* **** *** forces ****** **** ** ** ****.
** **** ***** ** * **** one. ******* *** *** *** **** been ******* **** ******** ** ***********.
********** ******* ********** (***) ****** * completive ******* ***** ** **** **** offering *** (*** *******) *** (*** due ** ***** ************), ****/******** ****** the *** ****** *** "***** ** unlock". **'* ****** ****** *** *** items *** **** **** ** **** as ***** **** ** ****** **********.
****** ****** *** ** ******* ** specific ********* (*.*. *********, ***** *******) and ************
*. **** *** ****** ****** ** the **** **** *** *** ********** visiting *** ****** ** ***** ** travelling ******** ****** *********.
*. *** ** **** *** ********* drop *** ******* **** ** *** long **** *****, *********** ** ****
* ********** *** **** ****** "*****" with *** ****** *** ****** *** on * ********'* ****.**** *** *** different ********** ** ******* ** ****** pretty **** **** *** ********* *** too ********* ** **** *** ****** was ******* ****** *** ******'* **** (I.E. **** **** **** *** *** a ***** ) ** *** *********** intercepted ** *** ******.***** ** ******* in *** *** *** *** *** set ********* ****** *********** (*** ** you ***** **** *****) ***** *****'* allow *** ******* ** *** ***** telephone ******** (*** ********** ***** *** on ******* ****) *** ***** *** nothing ** ** ****** ** **** these **** ** ** ******** ** their ***** ** ** ** **** from **** *********
****** *********** *** ******* **** ***** now.
*** **** ****** **** ** ** eye-opening.
*'* **** ** ***** *** * mobile ****** ****** ***** *** *** been ********* **** - ** **** it "**********". ** **** *** ******* any **** ** ****** *** ****** operation. *** ******* ********* *** ********** can **** ******** **** ****** **** bluetooth *** ******** *** ****** - a **** ******* *** ******* ******** than *******. *** ** ***** *** required, ********** *** ** ******** **** any **** ** **** *******. ****** us (*********.***) * ***** **** ***** offers ********* *******. *** ** **** to ****.
******: **** ******* *** **** ***** to *** *** **********:"**********" ****** ****** ******* - **** Do *** *****?
*** ********** ********** *** **** *** mobile ****** ** *** ******** ******** highlights *** **** *** ****** *** efficient ******* ** ****** **** **********. Companies ****** ********** ********* ** ******** mobile ****** ********* **** *** **** provide *********** *** *****, *** **** ensure *** ********** ** ********* *********** and ******.
************* ***, (** * ********** *******)?