MIFARE® DUOX®
CC EAL 6+
Access
Automotive
EV Charging
Transport
Loyalty
Combines asymmetric and symmetric cryptography for secure access, car access and EV charging. Supports multiple applications on one chip.
Smart Cities
NFC Keychain For Smart Cities
Your residents carry a separate card for every system in the city. One for building access, one for transit, one for the gym. NFCKEY can replace each of those cards with a single wearable keychain. You select the chip, encode it to your platform, and issue it. Your system stays unchanged.
Application
Smart Cities
Examples
Access, Transit, EV Charging, Payments, Hotels
Managed By
Each System Operator
From 10 piecesReady-made designs
Custom Designfrom 50 pieces
~2 weeksLead time for custom design
Wide chip rangeNXP® and STMicroelectronics
how nfckey fits in
What NFCKEY Replaces in Smart City Systems
What NFCKEY can replace
Building access cards and fobs
Transit cards
Loyalty cards and EV charging RFID cards
Hotel key cards and event passes
What NFCKEY does not replace
Readers, validators, door locks, terminals
Backend platforms or ticketing engines
Access rules, fares, permissions
Payment processing infrastructure
How it works
One Keychain, Several Operators
Each operator keeps its own system. They only share the keychain.
Every city system runs its own readers and backend. NFCKEY doesn’t connect them. Each operator can add its own application to the keychain, protected by its own keys.
Building managerDoor access
Transit authorityTicketing
City servicesLibrary, bike share
One chip, a separate application per operator
The user just taps
Each reader can only open the application it holds keys for. A door reader can’t open the transit application.
This needs a multi-application chip, set up so more than one operator can add an application. See the chip families below.
Across the city
Where NFCKEY Can Be Used
Each use below is a separate system with its own operator. NFCKEY works in yours once it is encoded for your readers and platform.
Building accessOffices, residential buildings, co-working spacesSee solution →
Public transitBus, metro, tram and ferry ticketingSee solution →
EV chargingAuthentication at charging stationsSee solution →
Closed-loop paymentsCampus, event and canteen cashless systemsSee solution →
Loyalty and membershipsRetail, fitness, librariesSee solution →
HotelsRoom keys and amenity accessSee solution →
Events and venuesConcerts, expos, conferencesSee solution →
Digital interactionsLinks, contact cards, app triggersSee solution →Smart-City Ready chips
The Chip Families Behind Smart City Deployments
These are some of the chip families we group as Smart-City Ready. You choose the one that matches your readers and your security needs.
AccessAutomotiveEV ChargingTransportLoyalty
MIFARE® DESFire®
CC EAL 5+AccessTransportLoyalty
HoReCa
Identity
Micropayment
For secure access, transport, loyalty, and more. DESFire® EV3 supports multiple applications, with more than one operator adding their own.
MIFARE® Plus®
AES-128AccessTransportLoyaltyHoReCa
Works with existing MIFARE® Classic® readers, then moves to AES-128 security once you switch the security level. Plus® EV2 is CC EAL 5+ certified.
NXP® JCOP®
CC EAL 6+AccessAutomotive
Crypto
eGov
Java Card platform for secure access, crypto and eGovernment applications, with support for multiple applets.
Sharing one keychain between operators needs a multi-application chip: MIFARE® DESFire® EV3, MIFARE® DUOX® or NXP® JCOP®, set up for it.
Our Technical Sample Pack includes DESFire® and Plus® chips, so you can test them on your own readers. For DUOX® or JCOP®, talk to our team.
Why NFCKEY
Benefits of Using NFCKEY in Smart City Systems
Always-With-You Form
One keychain with you, instead of a card for every operator. Building, transit, locker, each one a separate card today.
Reinforced Sleeve Mount
Rated up to 40 kg tensile load, so it survives being tapped daily across multiple systems, not just one gate.
System-Native Behavior
Each operator keeps their own access rules and backend untouched. NFCKEY is the credential, not the system.
Operator and City Branding
Full-colour printing puts your logo or city identity on the keychain, so people recognise it at a glance.
Designed to IP68 Standards
Designed in a way so it holds up at an outdoor transit platform or a parking structure the same as it does indoors.
Reduced Plastic Consumption
Each NFCKEY issues uses up to 3.7x less plastic than a standard card.
Deployment Model
Who Uses and Who Manages NFCKEY in a Smart City
WHO USES NFCKEY
- Residents, commuters, hotel guests, employees, visitors
- They tap it at readers, validators, terminals, and door locks the same way they would a card or fob
- They don't configure, encode, or manage any credentials themselves
WHO MANAGES NFCKEY
- Each operator (building manager, transit authority, hotel, EV network, loyalty provider) independently selects the chip, encodes it, and issues it through their own platform
- Each operator retains full control of their own access rules, fares, and user data
Next Steps
What's next?
Everything you need to get started — from chip selection to design and bulk ordering
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Explore different NFC chip types
Check chip compatibility with your target devices, readers, or platforms before ordering
Test before bulk deployment
If needed, order a sample pack to try the physical product and test compatibility with your setup
Select your design
Choose from ready-made designs or submit a custom design
Explore Further
Useful links
Product
Chip Types We Offer
Explore all chip families available across NFCKEY products
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Shop
Design Collections
Browse our ready-made designs across a range of collections
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Solutions
All Solutions
See the full range of industries and applications where NFCKEY can be deployed
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guide
Getting Started With NFCKEY
A guide to selecting the right chip, ordering, and deploying NFCKEY in your environment
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about nfckey
NFCKEY Standards and Regulations
Learn about NFC Forum compliance and the technology behind NFCKEY
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