Identive iAuthenticate Reader Now MFi-Certified for Secure ID Card Authentication to Apple Mobile Devices

Identive Group, Inc. announced that its iAuthenticate smart card reader has been certified under Apple’s MFi program for use with iPhone and iPad mobile devices. The iAuthenticate reader allows people to use their iPhones or iPads to authenticate themselves to secure networks, websites and payment systems using their smart chip-based IDs or credit cards.

iAuthenticate is designed for use with the iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad (third generation), iPad 2, and iPad running iOS 5.0 or higher. Additionally, an add-on adapter enables compatibility with the iPhone 5, iPad 4th generation and iPad mini. The readers are available now from Identive and its authorized resellers.

“With the BYOD, or ‘bring your own device’ culture permeating both the corporate and government sectors, there is a growing need for an easy and secure solution that allows employee-owned devices to be used to authenticate employee IDs. Our iAuthenticate reader does just that, enabling authentication of corporate or even highly secure federally-issued smart identification credentials using an Apple iPad or iPhone,” said Louis Modell, vice president of Identification Products for group. “iAuthenticate helps companies protect their digital assets while allowing employees to use their personal devices to accomplish work tasks both within and outside the office. For the millions of employees and contractors of the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and other U.S. Government agencies, iAuthenticate enables secure logon to federal websites and web-based accounts and email without the need to carry a laptop or return to their offices. Having the ‘made for Apple devices’ logo on our iAuthenticate packaging signals that the reader is Apple-tested and approved, which is an important step for market adoption.”