HID inks deal with GE, Honeywell

IRVINE, Calif.--In a move that further solidifies the company's position as a leading provider of proximity technology, HID extended licensing agreements with Honeywell and GE Infrastructure, Security for the technology behind its line of contactless access control cards and readers. HID specializes in the manufacturing of access control products for commercial users that include corporations, universities and healthcare facilities. Demand for managed physical access control products come not only from companies looking to grant permission rights to buildings but also due to laws pertaining to patient rights. The GE and Honeywell deals are "indicative of HID's OEM strategy," said Holly Sacks, vice president of marketing for the company. "Strategy being to partner with other companies to provide customers with products that are interoperable and compatible with what is standard in the industry." This OEM program includes technology licensing, HID technology components and private labeling of finished card and reader products. In the Honeywell agreement, the two companies build off an existing partnership that dates back to the late 1990s. This deal extends Honeywell's rights to include HID developed low-frequency technology in Honeywell's OmniProx product line, as well as incorporate HID's iClass high-frequency technology into existing and future access control product releases. As a result of the deal with GE, HID's proximity card technology will be incorporated into future access control reader products developed and manufactured by the company. Full details of the agreement have not been disclosed by either company. HID also announced that recently acquired Synercard Corp. will be merged into the company. Assa Abloy, a publicly held manufacturer and supplier of locks, purchased Synercard last month through its identification technology group, of which HID is a division. "We have excellent custom card services capability," commented Sacks. "And, now, Synercard will help us enhance delivery of those services to HID customers." Based in Quebec, Synercard designs and distributes digital identity and photo card management software products for the creation and management of photo ID cards.