3rd Place at the GIT SECURITY AWARD 2010 in the Category D - mobile phone for access control

Sorex Wireless has developed the wirelessKey, an innovative application that transforms almost any bluetooth-enabled mobile telephone into an electronic key. “The advantages of the system include its suitability for daily use, security and ease of operation. There is no need to reconfigure that handset that will be used as the electronic key," explains Sorex founder and CEO, Christian Csank. All the technology is housed in the Sorex Wireless bluetooth module which communicates with the mobile phone. Each handset is registered once and is then automatically identified according to its unique Bluetooth MAC address. The Sorex wirelessKey is already in operation throughout the German-speaking world.

Premium version for businesses
Specifically designed for businesses, the professional version of Sorex wirelessKey can accommodate up to 1,000 users per console. Access rights are managed centrally via the company’s network using software developed by Sorex. This means that rights can be added or revoked at any time simply by pressing a button. Each professional module has its own internet address (IP address) making the system suitable for businesses with multiple locations. The Sorex wirelessKey can be used to authenticate employee identity, manage access control and log working times. The system can be programmed to grant individuals access to specific entry points at specific times of day. There is no need to provide employees, suppliers and service staff with a key. All they will need to access company premises is a mobile telephone.

Slimline consumer version
One advantage of the system for private users is that it can be used to grant access to all the residents of a building with a registered bluetooth mobile phone. Up to ten individuals can be registered per console. New and older Bluetooth mobile phones are compatible with the technology. Besides automatic access and garage control, additional services such as alarm system deactivation are also available. Alongside security, the system’s strength lies in its ease of use — for the majority of people, mobile phones are indispensable and among the everyday objects they carry with them at all times so the system will dispense with the need to carry a door key in future.

How Sorex wirelessKey works
A 12cm x 5cm Sorex bluetooth console is mounted on the inside of the door (invisible from the outside). The handset is registered in the system and assigned a unique 10-digit code. From then on the mobile phone is identified by the Sorex console whenever it comes into range. Once the device is verified, a radio signal is sent to open the locking mechanism or activate the electronic door motor. After the handset has been registered for the first time, no data is exchanged between the device and the Sorex bluetooth module, making it impossible for anyone to intercept the access code. The console can be set to recognise mobile phones at distances of between 1 centimetre and 14 metres. The system can also incorporate a wall-mounted door release button to provide additional security.

Highly secure
The security of the Sorex system is built on a combination of features:

• Class I bluetooth changes frequency 1,700 times per second, eliminating liability to radio frequency interference.
• The authorisation code is 128-bit encrypted.
• The code is only exchanged once, upon initial registration. From this point on it is saved in the console. No data is exchanged as the bluetooth handset comes into range and authorisation is cross-referenced. The system can simply be deactivated if the telephone is lost.
• The control console on the door cannot be reached from outside, unlike NFC sensors, fingerprint systems or code lock keypads. All of these are positioned on the outside, exposing them to a range of potential hazards (vandalism, weathering etc.).