Paul Bodell

The obvious reason to buy security systems is to promote greater security. But in some cases, there are more specific and/or immediate motivators that lead to a security purchase. Everybody wants more security in the abstract, but how willing are we to pay for it? Security is sometimes seen as a “grudge purchase,” competing for tight corporate dollars with other investments that may seem more appealing or urgent. But other times an event occurs that moves security to the top of the list of priorities. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What motivators compel customers to buy more security systems?

Big data is a buzzword, and data – presumably of all sizes – is a driving force in the physical security market. As systems become more sophisticated and expand their capabilities, the result is more data; in some cases, a lot more data. But a key question is: What do we do with the data? How do we use it to provide value? How do we interpret it, and transform it into useful information and/or intelligence? We presented the topic of data to our Expert Panel Roundtable and came away with a range of thoughts on its changing – and expanding – role in the physical security market (and beyond). We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How is a greater emphasis on data changing the physical security market?

Technology is changing at a break-neck pace, and the security marketplace is currently being bombarded by a wealth of new capabilities and innovations. But what will be the impact? Which of the currently-hyped new innovations will have a major impact, and which will fade over time? And even acknowledging the long-term significance of various technologies, what can we expect to be the more immediate effect? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What new security technology is poised to have the greatest impact in the second half of 2017?

Once again, ISC West has come and gone. The show continues to please exhibitors and attendees. Reviews are generally glowing and enthusiastic. For all its successes, however, there is a certain repetition from year to year – a lot of the same players, the same technology trends (not to mention the same venue every year, but who doesn’t like Vegas?) But even among the repetition, there is usually at least one element that is surprising. Perhaps it’s the unexpected elements that keep us all coming back. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What surprised you most at ISC West in 2017?

Lower equipment prices (with less margin) are one industry trend leading more integrators to seek out new sources of revenue. With margins shrinking on lucrative, but unpredictable, “project-based” business, integrators are looking for more revenue stability. One solution is recurring monthly revenue (RMR), which is already common in the related field of alarm monitoring. But where does RMR come from? Creating more RMR also requires that integrators change how they do business, from sales commissions to the technologies they deploy. On the other hand, increasing RMR is a great way to build additional value in a business. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the new opportunities for installers/integrators to create recurring monthly revenue (RMR) in their businesses?

Rapid changes in technology span both the consumer and the physical security markets. In the consumer market, technology innovation is nowhere more apparent than in the palms of our hands, where we all hold the latest smartphones and mobile devices. Simply put, the unprecedented power and capabilities of today’s smart phones have changed our lives. No wonder they are also having an impact on our business of physical security systems. Although a consumer product, smartphones increasingly play a role in security. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: How are smartphones impacting technologies in the physical security market?

Changes in our industry’s technologies are reflected in the language we use. Over the years, more than one industry trend has been tied to associated buzzwords – for better or worse. As the technologies change, so does the language. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the industry’s newest “buzzwords” and what do they reflect about the changing market?

Open systems are great at providing freedom for end user customers. But does the term “open system” mean the same thing throughout the industry? In the bad old days before the introduction and broad acceptance of open systems, security vendors produced proprietary systems that used only their own hardware and software. This locked in a customer to a specific vendor’s product line, and if another vendor offered a better product, the only way to get it was to switch to that vendor’s total solution. Open systems changed all that, in theory allowing the selection of best-in-class hardware, software and other components to meet customer requirements. But is the term “open” understood consistently in the market? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is an open system? Is there a consensus in the marketplace of the definition of “open?” Although there is mostly a consensus in the panel’s answers, we did notice some variables.

Sometimes customers expect more out of a security system. A brand new security system just doesn’t perform as the customer expected it would. In fact, one might argue that the many variables in today’s complex systems make it more likely than ever that some element of a system might not measure up to a customer’s expectations. What happens then? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What happens if a customer’s expectations of system performance are greater than what a physical security system can deliver?

Terrorism is in the headlines all over the world. After any such incident, many of us in the physical security market find ourselves asking: What could we have done to prevent it? Assessing risk and preventing catastrophes before the fact are part of our market’s DNA; and yet, too often the random nature of terrorist attacks and their targeting of public places leave us unsure of anything anyone could have done. How can we translate the benefits of our industry’s products into real-world solutions that can prevent terrorist attacks? We presented the question to this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable, and received a variety of interesting responses. Specifically, we asked: How is the recent rise in terrorism impacting the physical security market (e.g., higher demand, different mix of products, etc.)? How should the physical security market respond? What solutions are needed?

As the security industry continues to evolve and come up with innovative technologies, it has also thrown open the doors for competition among manufacturers of security systems and products. Price wars are emerging in the physical security market, while manufacturers and integrators are looking for new ways to offer greater value and better service. It’s one thing to fight it out for a new customer, but nobody wants to lose an existing customer based on price, or any other factor for that matter. In an industry increasingly being driven by the low cost of products, how can manufacturers and security integrators ensure their existing customers don’t defect to a new player, a new product claim or a lower price? We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What is the best way to ensure customer loyalty (for manufacturers or integrators)?

The industry is counting down to the big industry trade show this fall, the ASIS International 61st Annual Seminar and Exhibits — ASIS 2015 in Anaheim, California. What topics will dominate the traditionally end user-based show in a year of shifting technologies and new capabilities on the horizon? We asked our Expert Panel Round Table to weigh in.

More and more physical security systems are being hosted in the cloud. But are cloud-based security systems “safe?” It’s a question being posed by risk-averse security professionals all over the world, and one for which a clear, concise answer may be difficult to find. We decided to pose it to our Expert Panel.

Salesmen may face pressure to “seal the deal,” but might an overemphasis on the ABCs of selling (“always be closing”) actually work to the detriment of an unsuspecting customer coerced into buying too much (or the wrong) technology to meet his or her needs? Not likely, according to our Expert Panel, who this week address the topic of salesmanship in the security market. We asked: Can an end user trust a security salesman’s advice? Our responses are overwhelmingly in the affirmative, and there is also some interesting commentary about how effective sales processes should work to the benefit of all parties involved

Going back to the days when we asked our children to program our VCRs, many of us are challenged by the intricacies of technology. However, a benefit of newer inventions such as smartphones and tablets is that they are easier to use and “intuitive” – whatever that means. Security and video surveillance systems are becoming more complex in lockstep with consumer electronics, so we asked this week’s panellists: How does technology innovation in security systems impact the skillsets needed by security operators and officers? Do more complex systems require that personnel have more technical skills? Do more user-friendly interfaces make it easier for even non-technical people to use newer systems?

VIZpin, designer and manufacturer of the VIZpin smartphone-based, Bluetooth enabled access entry system, has recently announced the addition of Rui Manuel Barreira to its executive leadership team. Barreira joined the Lancaster, PA-based company in the role of vice president of technology. Barreira will be responsible for managing VIZpin’s global engineering and product teams, execute VIZpin’s product strategy and expand VIZpin’s patent portfolio. He will also develop and manage VIZpin’s API/SDK Developer Program and the associated partner relationships. Mobile credential and smartphone access control Rui will ensure that VIZpin continues to lead the mobile credential and Smartphone Access Control Markets" Before joining VIZpin, Barreira co-founded and served as CEO of motel.io, a global, scalable platform for testing software on mobile devices, and was Chief Digital Officer for Critical Software. Barreira, who holds a four-year degree in computer science and master’s degree in software engineering, is currently an advisory board member of SURFnCODE and Porto Tech Hub. “Rui is a great addition to the leadership team,” comment VIZpin President and CEO Paul Bodell. “His process driven approach to product development, technology background and user experience focus will ensure that VIZpin continues to lead the mobile credential and Smartphone Access Control Markets.” Cloud-based management tools VIZpin designs, manufactures and markets a complete access control solution that includes cloud-based management tools (ACaaS), low-cost Bluetooth controllers and smartphone apps. The VIZpin solution provides a secure, convenient and affordable way to unlock any device by using a smartphone as a key.

VIZpin, designer and manufacturer of the VIZpin smartphone-based, Bluetooth-enabled access entry system, has announced the appointment of Wendi Grinnell to the newly-created position of Vice President, effective immediately. Grinnell, of Elizabethtown, is a graduate of Rutgers University and has 20 years of marketing and sales leadership experience. She joined VIZpin in January 2017 in the role of marketing director. Wendi’s extensive industry experience in customer-focused technology solutions and technical marketing make her a natural fit for the role of VP" Grinnell appointed VIZpin VP According to VIZpin President and CEO Paul Bodell, the role of Vice President was added to the company’s organisation to support VIZpin’s rapid growth and market expansion. He notes, “Wendi’s extensive industry experience in customer-focused technology solutions and technical marketing make her a natural fit for the important role of Vice President. Her contributions as marketing director have been invaluable, and we are eager for her to apply her innovative thinking and vision in her new, expanded role to continue enhancing VIZpin’s strategic direction and driving additional growth and profitability.” As Vice President, Grinnell will work closely with Bodell to determine VIZpin’s overall business strategy. She will have an integral role in the development and execution of the company’s growth strategy to achieve strategic business objectives, including leading sales and marketing efforts and team members to secure new business and expand existing business. Smartphone access control Grinnell comments, “Since joining VIZpin, it has been exciting to see such a dramatic shift in the industry with the adoption of smartphone access control. There are many new opportunities to explore, and as Vice President, I am looking forward to helping to create and execute new strategies to continue to expand our brand and grow the business.”

VIZpin, a provider of Smartphone Access Control, has announced the launch of VIZpin ROLES. This major update to the popular Access Control as a Service (ACaaS) greatly simplifies system administration for small, medium and large access control applications. With VIZpin ROLES, you can grant access to large groups of users using a pre-defined list of readers with unique schedules for each reader so managing complex operations is now fast and convenient. It also provides significant savings by eliminating the administrative burden of changing schedules. Perfect for multi-shift operations With ROLES you no longer have to update one user at a time, if there is a schedule change or more access points are needed, simply change the ROLE and everyone with that ROLE is automatically updated. It is perfect for applications with multi-shift operations, visitors and temporary employees. “VIZpin was always great for applications with less than 20 access points,” noted Paul Bodell, VIZpin CEO, “ROLES makes it easier for larger customers to benefit from the security, convenience and affordability of VIZpin.” Because VIZpin is a cloud-based access control solution, upgrades are immediate and do not require a service call or equipment upgrade.

Wendi will be responsible for conceiving and executing marketing strategies and tactics that drive growth VIZpin, the provider of Commercial Smartphone Access Control, announces that Wendi Grinnell has joined the company as their Director of Marketing. Wendi will be responsible for conceiving and executing marketing strategies and tactics that drive growth and increase brand awareness. Previous experience Grinnell is a marketing and digital communications professional with almost 20 years of both small business and large corporation experience. Most recently, she was an eBusiness Specialist for TE Connectivity Ltd., a global manufacturing company, where she was responsible for eCommerce application development and support, managing voice of the customer feedback, and supporting corporate marketing campaigns. “We’re excited to have someone with Wendi’s breadth and depth of experience join us,” said VIZpin President and CEO, Paul Bodell. “Her diverse skill set enables her to bring a strategic vision and focus to our organisation as we continue to innovate and grow.” When asked about her new role, Wendi was enthusiastic. “I’m passionate about the power of marketing and excited about translating the company’s business objectives into marketing strategies that will ultimately drive revenue.”

Users are migrating to smartphone based access control solutions because they are less expensive and more convenient VIZpin, provider of Commercial Smartphone Access Control, has announced that VIZpin LITE, an entry level version of their popular Managed Access Control solution is now available at no charge.Smartphone-based access control End-users increasingly want to use their phone as their key instead of carrying another credential like a card or FOB.  They are also migrating to smartphone based access control solutions because they are less expensive and more convenient; while improving security and increasing operational efficiency.  Mid-size applications usually require a full-featured service like VIZpin PLUS that offers unlimited users/doors, schedules and audit trails.  There are also many ultra-cost-sensitive applications that would like the convenience and security of a smartphone access control solution, but only have the budget for a low-tech solution like a keypad.  VIZpin LITE To address this, VIZpin has introduced VIZpin LITE as a free service.  With VIZpin LITE, you can send keys to anyone with the VIZpin SMART app and these keys can be easily revoked.   Each VIZpin LITE account can have unlimited readers and includes 5 free keys.  Additional keys can be provided through a VIZpin Certified Dealer and are a fraction of the cost of prox cards or FOBs.  If your needs change, VIZpin LITE accounts can be easily upgraded to include user schedules and 90 day audit trails with unlimited events. “Our dealers and locksmiths were asking for a simpler version of VIZpin that costs about the same as a keypad but lets you use your phone as your key” offered Paul Bodell, President and CEO of VIZpin “so we launched VIZpin LITE which provides more control, convenience and security.” Save

ECKey, the market leader in commercial smartphone access control, recently announced that it has introduced VIZpin LINK for remotely managing VIZpin Reader-Controllers using phone as network. Manages system remotely by using phone as key and network Remote management of panel-based access control systems require a LAN (Local Area Network), ISP (Internet Service Provider) and the associated hardware and cabling which adds significant cost to the installation, administration and maintenance of the system. VIZpin LINK lets the user manage the system remotely by using phone as key and network. Update VIZpin Reader-Controller even in absence of network Each time someone uses the VIZpin SMART app to unlock a door or control a device, VIZpin LINK updates the device settings and retrieves system information using a secure, encrypted Bluetooth connection. The VIZpin SMART app knows if it has a data, cellular or Wi-Fi connection and if it doesn’t, it will cache the encrypted information. When a connection is available, the VIZpin SMART app sends the information to private VIZpin Account in the cloud where the user can manage and view it from anywhere. “We continually improve the VIZpin experience for end-users and installers and VIZpin LINK is a major breakthrough” offered Paul Bodell, President and CEO, “now VIZpin Certified Partners can update systems and change settings without rolling a truck, regardless of where the VIZpin Reader-Controller is and whether or not there is any network connectivity.” VIZpin LINK works with the VIZpin SMART app for iOS and Android and is available on all VIZpin PLUS Accounts.

SourceSecurity.com’s Expert Panel had a lot to say in 2015 on a variety of topics in our Roundtable discussions.   Not surprisingly, the discussion topics that have generated the most interest (in terms of how much visitor traffic they generated) are the same hot topics we hear about every day in the industry. Our very most-clicked-on Roundtable discussion in 2015 was about the impact of video on privacy rights. Other hot topics that made the Top-10 list of Roundtable discussions included the Cloud (twice!), the impact of IT on physical security, and the outlook for 4K cameras. Additional well-read discussions centred on expanding the benefits of security to other departments and how to improve training. Readers also gravitated to Expert Panel Roundtable discussions of more technical topics such as the value of full-frame-rate video and the effectiveness of panoramic view cameras (compared to pan-tilt-zoom functionality). Rounding out the Top 10 is a discussion of the desirability (and legal implications) of using dummy cameras. Here is a listing of the Top 10 Expert Panel Roundtable discussions posted in 2015 at SourceSecurity.com, along with a “sound bite” from each discussion, and links back to the full articles. Thanks to everyone who contributed to Expert Panel Roundtable in 2015 (including the quotable panellists named below). 1. What are the limitations on where video cameras can be placed because of privacy? "Use of cameras in retail applications can easily be justified in general surveillance of sales floors and shopping aisles, but cameras should only be used in changing areas to address a particularly serious problem that cannot be addressed by less intrusive means.” [Mark Pritchard] 2. Are cloud-based security systems “safe?”  "If the authentication principles are insufficient and weak passwords are allowed, it doesn’t matter how strong the encryption is. Because cloud-based systems are exposed to the Internet, they demand strong authentication and increased operational procedures." [Per Björkdahl]   3. How does IT affect the physical security buying decision? "Of course, we all want good value, but we must invest as necessary. If you strip everything back, the integrator's job is to deliver data. If IT and security departments can keep this objective in mind, then 'value' redefines itself." [Larry Lummis] 4. Which non-security uses of video are catching on?  "While video can help with quality control across the supply chain, it will be especially useful in ensuring compliance with the international adulteration rule [for food manufacturers], the rule with the last court-ordered deadline on May 31, 2016." [Don Hsieh]   5. What is the value of "full-frame-rate" video? "I once took a client’s footage of a genuine street fight to check how many images per second were needed to prove who punched who – 25fps was fine but 12fps made the video evidence doubtful. Don’t forget, however many fps you choose, your shutter speed must be fast enough to prevent motion blur spoiling the details." [Simon Lambert]   6. When is it desirable to use 'dummy' cameras as a deterrent? "If cameras are present, there is a reasonable expectation of a secure environment in both public and private areas. If the public sees cameras and assumes they are real, they could argue that they were reliant on the protection provided by the cameras." [Dave Poulin] 7. Are megapixel or panoramic-view cameras an effective substitute for PTZs? "Panoramic cameras are usually static, so zooming into a scene’s details is done in software and limited by pixels in the sensor, lens quality and software such as de-warping, so clarity at the boundaries might disappoint. PTZ cameras zoom optically, magnifying long-range details significantly better." [Simon Lambert]   8. Is HD still the standard of resolution in the market? For how much longer?  "The 720p and 1080p HDTV remains dominant today and is expected to be for the foreseeable future. The next standards-based resolution will be 4K, which represents 8.3 megapixel, but first the industry will need to improve on bandwidth with better compression and better light sensitivity." [Fredrik Nilsson]   9. What are the current limitations of cloud-based systems? "The only remaining limitations of cloud-based systems are bandwidth and connectivity to the cloud. There is more than enough bandwidth for applications like Access Control and Visitor Management, but it will take a couple more years before all high-resolution video is cloud-based.” [Paul Bodell]   10. How can security training be improved among integrators and end users?  "Training should be sticky and persistent. Follow-up training such as on-line review and updated course material should be available to keep the knowledge fresh. Technology is constantly changing, as soon as training is complete the knowledge begins to go stale." [Charlie Erickson]   See the full coverage of 2015/2016 Review and Forecast articles here

It is ideal for replacing card or key access at apartment and campus building entrances, gate entrances Securitech, the industry leader for innovative, purpose-driven locking devices, is announcing the availability of VIZpin®-enabled Bluetooth standalone access control in the Control Trim series of electric release door handles. This cost-effective, easy and flexible access control is now available for a wide range of applications, further enhancing the Control Trim’s compatibility with the widest range of access control and keying systems. Suitable for retrofit and new installations The new products feature Bluetooth entry functionality from ECKey, the leader in cloud-based access control and visitor management, letting authorised smartphones be used as temporary or permanent keys. The new products are designed for both retrofit and new installations, and are ideal for replacing card or key access at apartment and campus building entrances, gate entrances, country clubs and marinas, and many similar locations to control access for employees, tenants, visitors, and vendors. “Answering the call for innovative solutions to meet our customers’ needs is the Securitech mission, and we are excited to be working with ECKey to deliver a locking solution that provides the ideal combination of extreme ease of use and high security,” said Mark Berger, President and Chief Product Officer of Securitech Group, Inc. Remote administration Several of Securitech’s most popular electrically released locks will be available in VIZpin-enabled models. Marketed under Securitech’s Control Trim line, the VIZpin technology empowers a line extension of the LEXI exit device electric release trim and ELECTRA mortise, narrow stile and cylindrical locksets. ECKey’s Security-as-a-Service (SaaS) product enables the user to remotely send, revoke and monitor VIZpin electronic keys through a smartphone app or text message. The Securitech Control Trim solutions, powered by VIZpin, eliminate most of the expense and administrative burden of traditional card/reader and keypad-based systems. It enables remote administration without the need for panels or complex IT networks, reducing installation costs by as much as 75 percent. “The VIZpin-enabled Securitech products open up major market segments that were previously unserved by Electronic Access Control,” added Paul Bodell, President and CEO of ECKey. “We are proud to be working with Securitech, another US-based manufacturer, who shares our commitment to quality and customer service.”

Southco will offer ECKey’s Bluetooth technology into its line of electromechanical locks and latches ECKey, the market leader in smartphone access control systems and Bluetooth readers, recently announced that it has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with Southco, Inc., the global leader in engineered access hardware solutions. VIZpin cloud-based key management ECKey’s Bluetooth readers allow any cell phone to be used as a key to control or unlock virtually any device. Since 2008, ECKey has offered its Bluetooth readers as an economical solution for access control, and in 2014, introduced VIZpin, its cloud-based key management service. With VIZpin, users can receive VIZpin keys either through a downloaded app or via text. VIZpin keys can authorize access 24/7 or only allow access for a preset amount of time, and are compatible with any Bluetooth device including cell phones, BlackBerry, Windows phones, Androids, iPhones and tablets. ECKey and Southco will work together on all aspects of sales, marketing and manufacturing of ECKey’s Bluetooth readers. ECKey will continue to sell ECKey readers into traditional security applications through OEM partners, distributors and dealers. Southco will offer its own version of the Bluetooth reader to its customers, and will provide the opportunity to embed ECKey’s Bluetooth technology into Southco’s extensive line of electromechanical locks and latches. Bluetooth access controller partnership “ECKey’s technology provides an economical wireless solution for remotely managing and monitoring access to our intelligent locking systems without the need for wiring into a network,” said Steve Spatig, General Manager of Southco’s Electronic Access Solutions business unit. Paul Bodell, President and CEO of ECKey said, “Our partnership with Southco provides us with access to extensive manufacturing expertise as well as an immediate presence in key end markets throughout the world that would have taken us years to develop on our own. We are very excited about what the relationship represents for near and long-term opportunity.”

ECKey (www.ECKey.com), the market leader in Smartphone Access Control Systems and Bluetooth Readers, recently announced that it has introduced VIZpin LITE, a free version of VIZpin, the popular cloud-based Access Control as a Service (ACaaS) and visitor management service. VIZpin LITE is a single-door version of VIZpin. Any VIZpin-enabled device can be registered at VIZpin.com, letting you send secure, encrypted VIZpin keys to that device from anywhere and to anyone with the VIZpin app.  VIZpin records when those keys are used and the keys can be easily revoked without having to go onsite.  Features VIZpin LITE is ideal for remote sites and cost-sensitive applications. Since VIZpin uses your phone as your key and your network, you can enroll people and monitor activity from anywhere, at any time without the expense and complexity of a local IP network.  “Our customers were looking for something more secure, convenient and affordable than prox cards and keypads, and they want to manage their systems remotely,” said Paul Bodell, President and CEO of ECKey.  “VIZpin LITE provides them with all the features they are demanding at a fraction of the cost of other systems and all with no monthly monitoring fee.” Each VIZpin LITE account includes free VIZpin credits that can be used to enroll users, issue keys and monitor activity. Additional credits can be purchased, and VIZpin LITE accounts can be upgraded to standard VIZpin accounts by a VIZpin Certified Dealer. 

Securitech and ECKey recently announced a complete line of VIZpin-enabled, stand-alone electronic door locks Securitech, a leading US-based producer of security door hardware, and ECKey, the market leader in Smartphone Access Control Systems and Bluetooth Readers, recently announced a complete line of VIZpin®-enabled, stand-alone electronic door locks. Planned for Q2 of 2015, several of Securitech’s most popular electrically released locks will be available in VIZpin-enabled models. Marketed under Securitech’s Control Trim line, the VIZpin technology empowers a line extension of the LEXI exit device electric release trim and ELECTRA mortise, narrow stile and cylindrical locksets. ECKey’s Security-as-a-Service ECKey’s Security-as-a-Service (SaaS) product enables the user to remotely send, revoke and monitor VIZpin electronic keys through a Smartphone app or text message. The Securitech Control Trim solution, powered by VIZpin, eliminates most of the expense and administrative burden of traditional card/reader and keypad-based systems. It enables remote administration without the need for panels or complex IT networks, reducing installation costs by as much as 75 percent. “Answering the call for innovative solutions to meet our customers’ needs is the Securitech mission and we are excited to work with the dynamic and forward thinking ECKey team,” said Mark Berger, President and Chief Product Officer of Securitech Group, Inc. “The VIZpin-enabled Securitech products open up major market segments that were previously unserved by Electronic Access Control,” added Paul Bodell, President and CEO of ECKey, “and we are proud to be working with another US-based manufacturer who shares our commitment to quality and customer service.” Securitech and ECKey at ISC West expo Securitech and ECKey will be previewing their products April 15-17 in Las Vegas, at the ISC West Expo and also at their Wounded Warrior Fund Raising event co-sponsored by Veracity.

ECKey, the market leader in Smartphone Bluetooth readers and access control systems, has announced the release of its VP1 Dual Mode Reader. ECKey announced the launch of their VP1 “Dual Mode” Reader, which is a complete electronic access control system that eliminates the hassle and expense of panels, cards, readers, software and networks.  It works with VIZpin, their cloud-based SaaS (Security as a Service), that lets you send, revoke and monitor electronic keys anytime from anywhere. The VP1 uses long-range Bluetooth so you can mount it in a secure area, away from weather and vandals, or out-of-sight for architecturally and historically-sensitive installations. Other Bluetooth readers only support Bluetooth Smart (aka Bluetooth Low Energy) devices and may only work with the latest iPhones.  ECKey’s VP1 reader works with ALL Bluetooth Classic or Bluetooth LE devices including flip phones, Blackberry® and Windows®, Android® and iPhones® solving your access needs for 99% of the market; it even works with tablets and PCs.  “We have always focused on commercial applications and learned early on that you can’t predict what type of device your employees, visitors, contractors or vendors have.  Since 99%+ of the installed devices today have either Bluetooth Classic or SMART, the VP1 has you covered,” commented Paul Bodell, President and CEO of ECKey.   The VIZpin Smart app for iPhone is now available on iTunes or on Google Play for Android devices.

PDQ Manufacturing, a leading US-based producer of architectural door hardware, and ECKey, the market leader in Smartphone Access Control Systems and Bluetooth Readers, recently announced a complete line of VIZpin®-enabled, stand-alone electronic door locks. Planned for Q1 of 2015, several of PDQ’s most popular stand-alone electronic locks will be available in VIZpin-enabled models.  Marketed under PDQ’s Tellcard© brand, the VIZpin technology empowers a line extension off three existing platforms – EGT Cylindrical Lock, EMR Mortise Lock and E629 Exit Device Trim. ECKey’s Security-as-a-Service (SaaS) product enables the user to remotely send, revoke and monitor VIZpin electronic keys through a Smartphone app or text message.  The PDQ/Tellcard© solution, powered by VIZpin, eliminates most of the expense and administrative burden of traditional card/reader and keypad-based systems. It enables remote administration without the need for panels or complex IT networks—reducing-- installation costs by as much as 75 percent. “There are tens of thousands of applications that demand an affordable, secure access control solution with an audit trail. Our combined solution responds to that demand.” said Bob Hasty, VP of Sales and Marketing at PDQ.  “Using a Smartphone as the basis of credentialed access is the wave of the future.” “The VIZpin-enabled PDQ products open up major market segments that were previously unserved by Electronic Access Control,” added Paul Bodell, President and CEO of ECKey, “and we are proud to be working with another US-based manufacturer who shares our commitment to quality and customer service.”