Chicago—June 15, 2012—Deploying mobile-based front desk bypass solutions today helps to build a significant competitive advantage for a hotel, brand or chain. However, deployment only makes sense if the solution can be used by guest now, and not in the next five to 10 years. This month, the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC), held June 25-28 at the Baltimore Convention Center, will be abuzz with discussions about access control/door lock technologies, mobile device strategies and Near Field Communication (NFC). Before attending an educational session or walking the show exhibit hall, it's important that hoteliers thoroughly understand the complexities and potential pitfalls associated with deploying Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) door locks that are said to be future compatible with NFC mobile devices.
 
Here's the situation: Although the vast majority of hotel door locks purchased today still operate using magnetic-stripe keycards, contactless technology is becoming increasingly popular. One of the motivations for purchasing contactless door locks is the claim of a “possible future compatibility with NFC phones” with the intention of offering a mobile-based front desk bypass option that sends guests straight to the room rather than standing in line and waiting for a room key. While selecting a contactless electronic-locking system may appear to be an easy choice, especially when there seems to be only a few options on the market today, hoteliers need to ensure that the solution they choose is "future proof," and that the strategy deployed today delivers immediate benefits and value to both owners and guests.
 
"The saying 'buyer beware' is never more true than it is today when contemplating investing in NFC-compliant technologies," said Pascal Metivier, Founder and CEO of OpenWays, a global solution provider of mobile-based access-management and security solutions. "Today's modern travelers are demanding mobile self-service options to avoid waiting in line upon arrival at a hotel. While implementing a front-desk bypass program is an enviable solution -- and one that is growing in demand -- it's imperative that hoteliers know what they are buying and whether or not the solution is truly deployable today and penalty free."
 
Potential Pitfalls
RFID and NFC are both contactless technologies, yet they are NOT the same and they are NOT interchangeable. The much-anticipated take up of NFC-enabled mobile phones is very slowly becoming a reality, and it would make sense to include an NFC strategy in business decisions relating to security and electronic-locking system selection. However, the governing body for NFC technology, the NFC Forum, has several technology architectures which continually change – so future-proofing an investment could be a big gamble.

• NFC technology, although introduced in late 2002, is still in an early adoption stage. Mobile carriers in the USA, Europe and other countries are still struggling to make the technology work and to build a viable business model.

• With 6.2 billion cell phones in service around the world, there are less than 0.5% that are NFC enabled. It will take many years before reaching any form of critical mass.

• There is no such a thing as one NFC. The fact is, NFC embeds multiple standards that are very different and will have a major impact if wrongly selected.

• Being truly NFC compliant is complex, and none of the door locks on the market today are truly compliant.

"Hotel companies that purchased RFID locks thinking that they will be compliant with NFC phones down the road may be very disappointed," Metivier said. "The same is true of RFID locks and RFID cards. They are not all created equal, nor are they all compliant and secured. Hoteliers need to be very careful when selecting such RFID door locks and cards. Just because a door lock is RFID enabled does not mean that it is NFC compliant or that it will become NFC complaint in the years to come, despite some marketing claims. Likewise, just because a salesman demonstrates an RFID lock opening via an NFC demo cell phone, it does not mean that the lock is truly NFC compliant."
 
The bottom line is this: It is not accurate to say that purchasing an RFID door lock today will guarantee compliancy with the new generation NFC-equipped phones when they become widely available in the future.  Some hoteliers are starting to realize that investing in RFID locks will not necessarily offer them the advantages they were initially told to expect from NFC.
 
Critical Questions
To better equip hoteliers with the business intelligence they need to make a wise buying decision related to electronic door locks, NFC-compliant technology, and the potential of offering a mobile phone-based front desk bypass solution, hoteliers must address the following questions:

 
Mobile Key by OpenWays is the only Mobile Key solution on the market that works TODAY with ALL cell phones worldwide. It allows hotels to reap the benefits NOW of a modern mobile based self-service check-in/check-out and make a business difference including: Improving service and guest experience; reducing operating costs; driving more direct bookings at greater margins than OTA distribution; improving operating cash flow; increasing security and master key management; building up a powerful qualified mobile data base with guest opt in; and being ecological/green.
 
OpenWays also provides Mobile Key DUAL© with PURE NFC combining the established and ubiquitous CAC™ (Crypto Acoustic Credential) technology with NFC technologies, making it hospitality's only "fully deployable today" and "fully future proof" solution.
 
Visit OpenWays at HITEC in Booth 2315 and experience Mobile Key. It's 100% deployable today, 100% future proof, 100% compatible with the major electronic locks, and 0% dependent on Mobile Phone Operators/Carriers. Hoteliers interested in pre-scheduling an appointment at HITEC should contact Andrew Sanders at (732) 707-1869 or email him at [email protected]. To learn more about Mobile Key by OpenWays, visit www.openways.com.
 
OpenWays is a global solution provider of mobile-based access-management and security solutions. With offices in Chicago, Las Vegas, Seoul and in Europe, OpenWays provides technology solutions allowing for the secure issuance and delivery of access rights and keys process via any cell phone operating on any network. The OpenWays solution is truly unique as it is built on the concept of credential dematerialization. The OpenWays mobile room key solution works on ALL the 6 billion cell phones in service in the world today. For more information, please contact Andrew Sanders at (732) 707-1869 or email [email protected]. More information can be found by visiting www.OpenWays.com.