{"id":18355,"date":"2025-10-29T12:51:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T17:51:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/?p=18355"},"modified":"2025-11-03T04:18:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T10:18:20","slug":"mobile-credentials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/guides\/mobile-credentials\/","title":{"rendered":"A short guide to readerless mobile credentials"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\"><strong>What are readerless mobile credentials?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mobile credentials that don\u2019t 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/integrations\/physical-access-control-systems\/\">proximity access control systems<\/a>, therefore don\u2019t replace physical credentials such as keycards and fobs, but simply act as an alternative method of access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"693\" src=\"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/phone-hand-next-to-reader-and-door-copy-2-1024x693.webp\" alt=\"mobile credentials that don't require reader rip and replace\" class=\"wp-image-18453\" style=\"width:600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/phone-hand-next-to-reader-and-door-copy-2-1024x693.webp 1024w, https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/phone-hand-next-to-reader-and-door-copy-2-300x203.webp 300w, https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/phone-hand-next-to-reader-and-door-copy-2-768x520.webp 768w, https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/phone-hand-next-to-reader-and-door-copy-2-1536x1040.webp 1536w, https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/phone-hand-next-to-reader-and-door-copy-2-2048x1386.webp 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\"><strong>How do readerless mobile credentials work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With readerless <a href=\"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/\">mobile credentials<\/a> a user can unlock a door using <a href=\"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/solutions\/software\/what-is-nfc\/\">NFC technology<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The user taps their smartphone onto the wireless<a href=\"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/smart-access-tile\/\"> smart access tile<\/a> next to the door or uses the iPhone or Android widget to unlock the door remotely.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"2\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The user\u2019s smartphone connects to Sentry Interactive\u2019s cloud service.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sentry Interactive\u2019s cloud service communicates via SSL\/SSH to the building\u2019s<br>door access controller.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The building\u2019s access controller acknowledges the access request from the Sentry Interactive cloud.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ol start=\"5\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u00a0A signal is sent to release the electric\/magnetic door lock and unlock the door.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"978\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/how-readerless-mobile-credentials-work-diagram-978x1024.jpg\" alt=\"diagram of how mobile credentials that don't require new door readers work\" class=\"wp-image-18458\" style=\"width:500px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/how-readerless-mobile-credentials-work-diagram-978x1024.jpg 978w, https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/how-readerless-mobile-credentials-work-diagram-286x300.jpg 286w, https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/how-readerless-mobile-credentials-work-diagram-768x804.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/how-readerless-mobile-credentials-work-diagram-1467x1536.jpg 1467w, https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/how-readerless-mobile-credentials-work-diagram.jpg 1548w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 978px) 100vw, 978px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\"><strong>Benefits of a readerless mobile credentials vs traditional mobile credentials<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Save on reader hardware costs, wiring and labor.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>With a simple SDK integration they can be added to third-party applications as a feature.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They follow the highest security standards adhering to NIST cybersecurity standards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compatible with iOS and Android devices.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One readerless mobile credential can be compatible with multiple access control systems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Time-limited, therefore access permissions can be automatically revoked.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integrate with systems of all ages.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/close-up-of-woman-in-grey-coat-holding-phone-with-green-screen-copy-2-1-1024x576.webp\" alt=\"lady in grey coat using mobile credential to open a glass door\" class=\"wp-image-18460\" style=\"width:601px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/close-up-of-woman-in-grey-coat-holding-phone-with-green-screen-copy-2-1-1024x576.webp 1024w, https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/close-up-of-woman-in-grey-coat-holding-phone-with-green-screen-copy-2-1-300x169.webp 300w, https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/close-up-of-woman-in-grey-coat-holding-phone-with-green-screen-copy-2-1-768x432.webp 768w, https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/close-up-of-woman-in-grey-coat-holding-phone-with-green-screen-copy-2-1-1536x864.webp 1536w, https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/close-up-of-woman-in-grey-coat-holding-phone-with-green-screen-copy-2-1.webp 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\"><strong>Where do they best fit?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/solutions\/industry-solutions\/coworking-flex-workspace\/\">Coworking and flexible workspaces<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Multi-tenant residential&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/solutions\/industry-solutions\/higher-education\/\">Campus facilities<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/solutions\/industry-solutions\/fitness-wellness\/\">Private and sports club facilities<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remote or unmanned sites (e.g. cell towers, substations, energy facilities)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Facilities with limited retrofit budgets<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\"><strong>Key considerations&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Connectivity &#8211; Ensure network coverage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compatibility &#8211; Confirm <a href=\"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/integrations\/physical-access-control-systems\/\">access control system<\/a> supports integration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\"><strong>Summary<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Readerless mobile credentials represent a new generation of mobile access,&nbsp; 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.<br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn about mobile credentials that don\u2019t require reader hardware to work and the benefits to security and scalability of just using the smartphone as the access credential and reader. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guides"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18355","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18355"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18355\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sentryinteractive.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}