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A short guide to readerless mobile credentials

Learn about mobile credentials that don’t require reader hardware to work and the benefits to security and scalability of just using the smartphone as the access credential and reader.
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Contents

What are readerless mobile credentials?

Mobile credentials that don’t require new mobile-enabled access control reader hardware to work. Instead of communicating through a fixed reader, with readerless mobile credentials the smartphone becomes both the credential and the reader that communicates with an access control system via a cloud service. Readerless mobile credentials can work with legacy proximity access control systems, therefore don’t replace physical credentials such as keycards and fobs, but simply act as an alternative method of access.

mobile credentials that don't require reader rip and replace

How do readerless mobile credentials work?

With readerless mobile credentials a user can unlock a door using NFC technology, iOS and Android Widgets, or QR code scan. Alternatively they still have the option to use their physical keycard or fob to enter a building as the legacy reader hardware remains.

Readerless mobile credentials come with a wireless, battery-less, and powerless NFC smart access tile that can simply be applied next to a door to allow for NFC tap-to-unlock door access.

  1. The user taps their smartphone onto the wireless smart access tile next to the door or uses the iPhone or Android widget to unlock the door remotely.
  1. The user’s smartphone connects to Sentry Interactive’s cloud service.
  1. Sentry Interactive’s cloud service communicates via SSL/SSH to the building’s
    door access controller.
  1. The building’s access controller acknowledges the access request from the Sentry Interactive cloud.
  1.  A signal is sent to release the electric/magnetic door lock and unlock the door.
diagram of how mobile credentials that don't require new door readers work

Benefits of a readerless mobile credentials vs traditional mobile credentials

  • Save on reader hardware costs, wiring and labor. 
  • With a simple SDK integration they can be added to third-party applications as a feature.
  • They follow the highest security standards adhering to NIST cybersecurity standards.
  • Compatible with iOS and Android devices.
  • One readerless mobile credential can be compatible with multiple access control systems.
  • Time-limited, therefore access permissions can be automatically revoked. 
  • Integrate with systems of all ages.
lady in grey coat using mobile credential to open a glass door

Where do they best fit?

Key considerations  

  • Connectivity – Ensure network coverage.
  • Compatibility – Confirm access control system supports integration.

Summary 

Readerless mobile credentials represent a new generation of mobile access,  simpler to deploy, easier to manage, and more flexible than traditional reader-based systems. Whether extending mobile access to new spaces or modernizing legacy setups, going readerless can dramatically reduce hardware costs and open the door to smarter, software-driven mobile credential security.

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William Bainborough

Board of Directors

William is an experienced British entrepreneur, founder, and accomplished board executive and advisor for a number of businesses. He is the CEO and co-founder of Doordeck, the world’s only true cloud-based access control aggregator. He is also the managing director and founder of Group Secure, a leader in providing security, CCTV, and access control solutions, products, and installation for high-net-worth individuals in the UK. 

William established his first business at just seventeen and brings 20-plus years of in-depth experience and industry knowledge. He has a proven track record for building businesses from the ground up—and then leading them to profitability and a successful exit across a myriad of sectors including hospitality, retail, security, telecommunications, and e-commerce. William’s leadership, vision, and experience in creating cutting-edge SaaS-based technology platforms will prove invaluable for Sentry Interactive moving forward.

Denis Hébert

CHAIRMAN & CEO

Hébert began his career at Honeywell International where he held several leadership positions including Managing Director for the Automation and Controls business in France and eventually President of the NexWatch Corporation from 1999-2002. Hébert led HID Global as President & CEO over a transformative 12-year period from 2002-2015, where he provided strategic guidance and grew the business tenfold through a mix of strong organic and acquisitive growth. Most recently, Hébert was President of Feenics Corporation which is a cloud-based access control company that was successfully sold to ACRE LLC at the end of 2021. Hébert also served on the Board of Directors for the Security Industry Association (SIA) from 2009-2020 and was nominated to be Chairman of the Board for SIA from 2016-2018. He is currently Chairman of the Board for Nightingale Security based in Newark, CA.

Stephen Taylor Matthews

Board of Directors
Stephen is a very accomplished attorney, member of the Texas State Bar, licensed commercial real estate broker, and an avid philanthropist. He is an experienced executive board member, serving in leadership positions for more than 20 community councils and corporate boards—ranging from Boy Scouts of America to the ABBA Business Leaders Council, and most recently the American Bank BOD, the Real Estate Council of Austin, and the Marbridge Foundation BOT. With more than 35 years experience, Stephen and his firm, Barrond & Adler, L.L.P. are devoted to eminent domain cases in Texas.

Jon Davis

Board of Directors

Mr. Davis is an Experienced corporate board member, having served on boards of public, private equity-backed, and venture-backed companies. Jon possesses deep industry expertise in dairy, food processing, food technology and manufacturing, and food, beverage, and entertainment services. 

During Jon’s tenure of 25 plus years, he’s led operations, research and development, and mergers and acquisitions. He’s served as CEO and has been the founder and active board member for many successful enterprises—from startups to billion-dollar corporations. While COO and CEO of Davisco Foods International, Jon built a state-of-the-art cheese plant which was awarded the United States Dairy processing plant of the year in 2005 by Dairy Foods magazine. Currently, Jon is active with several non-dairy projects, including investments in local real estate, the Wayzata Brewworks, and his latest venture the new CōV restaurant in Edina’s Galleria.

Joe Caldwell

Founder and Chairman of the Board

Joe is an American entrepreneur, investor, and accomplished executive. He has co-founded, founded, and led many successful businesses, including US Internet, a leading fiber internet service provider, Securence, a leading provider of email filtering software, and Ravon, an industry-leading digital voice communications service. 

It was Joe’s venture, Municipal Parking Services (MPS), that inspired him in 2020 to start Sentry Interactive, an advanced touchless and staffless detection platform.

Caldwell currently serves as CEO and Chairman of the Board for Municipal Parking Services (MPS), a global tech company based in Austin, TX responsible for inventing and patenting technologies that assist in parking and security enforcement.

Joe was named one of Minnesota’s 500 Most Powerful Business Leaders for the past two years—and is a seasoned corporate board member. He’s served on boards of public, private equity-backed, and venture-backed companies—and has deep industry expertise in all aspects of digital technology.

Jason Bohrer

Board of Directors

Jason Bohrer is one of the visionaries behind our mission to bring people back together safely and securely, in any environment, through Sentry’s advanced digital communications and detection platform. With over two decades of senior leadership experience, Jason’s track record of success spans across sales, operations, product innovation, strategy, and technology for domestic and global companies like Bexar Technology Partners, CPI Card Group, HID Global, and Motorola, Inc. Prior to launching Sentry Interactive, Jason was actively involved with several key technology transitions across multiple industries, including the contact and contactless EMV transitions in the U.S. payments industry and the adoption of smart card and mobile technologies in the global access and identity market. Jason was an inaugural member of the University of Chicago Executive Institute and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin. He also serves as the Executive Director for two industry-leading not-for-profit organizations: the Secure Technology Alliance and the U.S. Payments Forum.
Brent Terry

Brent Terry

Chief Operating Officer
Brent Terry leads the operations and solutions organizations at Sentry. This includes all product innovation, development, and operations management. A veteran in the technology space, Brent has more than 30 years of experience across a myriad of industries, like physical security technology and building automation, SAAS, hardware and software product development, internet, digital TV, interactive TV, digital media, telecommunications, and medical products and services. Prior to Sentry, Brent has spun up successful startups and led high-performing teams for some of the biggest global, Fortune 500 companies, including ARRIS, Conerco, Motive Communications, SeaChange International, and IBM. Brent holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Louisiana. He also is the committee Chairman and Program Director for a non-profit organization responsible for the rollout of smart cards for physicians and first responders.