Apple Mobile Devices Receive Secure ID Card Authentication

Today, Identive Group, Inc., a provider of products and services for the identification, security and RFID industries, announced a new smart card reader for Apple mobile devices. Using smart chip-based IDs or credit cards, allows iPad(R), iPhone(R) and iMac(R) users to authenticate themselves to secure networks, websites and payment systems. The initial version of the reader is targeted at the U.S. government and worldwide enterprise markets.

“The popularity of the iPad in particular is creating a "bring your own device" culture as employees seek to use their personal devices to accomplish work tasks both within and outside the office,” said Louis Modell, VP of Identive's Identification Products Division.

Modell added that organizations that maintain strict policies around network access, security problems arise since employee-owned devices typically do not have a way to read and authenticate highly secure smart card-based employee IDs. By enabling authentication of corporate or federally-issued smart identification credentials, Identive's iAuthenticate reader addresses this problem using an Apple iPad, iPhone or iMac.

One of the world's largest smart card-based ID programs is operated by the U.S. federal government. Moreover, for the more than five million federal workers who must present their Common Access Card (CAC) or Personal Identification Verification (PIV) credentials, device mobility has been elusive to securely authenticate their identities whenever they log on to the network.

Identive's iAuthenticate reader includes the PKard(R) for iOS CAC/PIV web/email app from Thursby Software Systems, a provider of smart card middleware and applications for Apple devices to address the unique requirements of the U.S. government and other high-security organizations.

On the U.S. General Services Administration's Approved Product List, an application is in process for its inclusion and moreover, the reader complies with all relevant federal standards including TAA, FIPS 140-2 and FIPS 201.

Dr. Manfred Mueller, EVP and COO Identification Products for Identive, concluded that in over 50 countries and to more than 400 PC customers, the iAuthenticate reader builds on the wealth of experience and technological know-how.