A lot of fuss has been made over the NFC capabilities of the new BlackBerry devices, but to date, the technology has mainly been talked about in the context of a mobile payment system. As convenient as that might be, RIM and HID have been working together on a new project, to use the NFC capabilities of the new devices to replace HID’s card system. Currently, businesses using HID’s systems issue a security card to their employees so they can gain access via a scanner mounted next to a door. Said to be launching in early 2012, the new system would allow employees with an NFC capable BlackBerry to simply wave their device at the pad, rather than the card, to gain access.

From the press release:

Instead of using keys or smartcards, BlackBerry smartphone users will be able to use iCLASS digital credentials that can be presented for authentication by simply holding their NFC-enabled BlackBerry smartphone in front of a reader, just like they do today with a physical iCLASS smartcard.

“NFC technology will enable many new and exciting capabilities for BlackBerry smartphones and we are very pleased to be working with HID Global to be the first to bring a host of secure identity and mobile access control capabilities to NFC-enabled smartphones,” said Andrew Bocking, vice president, Handheld Software Product Management at RIM.

 

[via: BerryReview]