HID Global and Sony Announce NFC-Enabled Contactless Smart Card Reader Platform for Global Laptop and Mobile Device Market

Companies Will Demonstrate Jointly Developed Solution at CARTES & IDentification 2011

IRVINE, Calif. and TOKYO - November 14, 2011 - HID Global, trusted leader in solutions for the delivery of secure identity, and Sony Corporation today announced a jointly developed contactless smart card reader platform that embeds secure access control capabilities and Near Field Communication (NFC) functionality into laptops and other mobile devices. The platform holds a secure element that stores cryptographic keys which secure the authenticity and integrity of user credentials. It supports widely used contactless technologies for applications ranging from physical access control and identity assurance at the desktop to transit-fare, point-of-sale collection and loyalty programs.

The jointly developed NFC global reader platform is the result of a strategic partnership that Sony and HID Global announced last year. Both companies will be demonstrating the platform November 15-17, 2011, at the CARTES & IDentification 2011 conference, where it will be shown reading a variety of card technologies using NFC, a short-range wireless technology that is now fueling a wide range of new mobile access control applications. The HID Global demonstration can be seen in Stand F002, Hall 3 in the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Center in France, while the Sony demonstration will be located in Stand 4L051, Hall 4.

In continuing to work closely with the NFC Forum in support of market-driven compliance and interoperability goals, the reader platform has been provided to the NFC Forum Certification Program as a reference sample to assist in the validation of the Digital Protocol test tools. The reader platform will also be submitted for certification.

"HID Global and Sony have delivered an exciting new embedded reader platform that will be offered to all manufacturers of laptops and other mobile devices," said Debra Spitler, vice president of mobile access solutions with HID Global. "HID Global continues to expand our access control system and card services businesses while bringing our partners and customers new products and deployment models that improve user security, flexibility and convenience."

"We are very pleased with this first solution from our strategic partnership with HID Global," said Yoshihiko Kawakami, general manager - Sales with Sony's FeliCa Business Division. "This is an important milestone that moves our FeliCa contactless card technology and NFC solutions into the global market. By releasing the new reader platform, we will play a role in providing a part of the NFC infrastructure in the global NFC era."

The jointly developed platform supports Sony's FeliCa™ technology, HID Global's iCLASS® and iCLASS SE™ credentials, MIFARE® DESFire EV1 credentials, and other broadly adopted technologies supporting the ISO/IEC 14443 Type A/B contactless smart card standard using the T=CL contactless transmission protocol. The solution also supports the industry-standard PC/SC Version 2.0 specification for the programming interfaces between PC applications, the operating system and smart cards. It is also prepared to further support the proximity features of the next major release of the Microsoft® Windows operating system which enable communication between NFC tags and devices (mobile phones or computers) using a tap gesture, as well as the Android operating system for tablet products.

Sony and HID Global have released a complete reference design for the jointly developed embedded NFC module, and will also provide comprehensive developer support to minimize product development requirements and speed time-to-market schedules for PC OEMs. During CARTES & IDentification 2011, the two companies will show laptop computers running HID Global's naviGO™ credential management software and a number of Sony FeliCa applications, including the Sony FeliCa Launcher platform service as well as the company's e-money Viewer widget. The companies will also show the platform operating with Sony's NFC Dynamic Tag, a FeliCa wireless module with a cable interface that enables data transmission between NFC reader/writers and other electronic equipment and devices.

About HID Global

HID Global is the trusted source for secure identity solutions for millions of customers around the world. Recognized for robust quality, innovative designs and industry leadership, HID Global is the supplier of choice for OEMs, system integrators, and application developers serving a variety of markets. These markets include physical and logical access control, including strong authentication and credential management; card printing and personalization; highly secure government ID; and identification technologies used in animal ID and industry and logistics applications. The company's primary brands include HID®, ActivIdentity™ , FARGO®, and LaserCard®. Headquartered in Irvine, California, HID Global has over 2,100 employees worldwide and operates international offices that support more than 100 countries. HID Global is an ASSA ABLOY Group brand. For more information, visit www.hidglobal.com.

About Sony Corporation

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and online businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $87 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011.
Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net/
Sony FeliCa Web Site: http://www.sony.net/Products/felica/
® HID and the HID logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of HID Global in the U.S. and/or other countries.
FeliCa is a trademark of Sony Corporation.
All other trademarks, service marks, and product or service names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Media Contact:

HID Global
Jeremy Hyatt
Director, Global Public Relations
949-732-2177
jhyatt@hidglobal.com
Sony Corporation
Corporate Communications
+81 3-6748-2200