Blackberry releases new Smart Card Reader

Allows pairing between smartphone, computer and PKI applications

Research In Motion today announced a new model of the BlackBerry Smart Card Reader, a lightweight, wearable, ISO 7816 compliant card reader that enables proximity controlled access to a user’s BlackBerry smartphone and computer.

The BlackBerry Smart Card Reader uses Bluetooth 2.0 technology with AES-256 encryption to enable secure pairing and communications between the reader, the BlackBerry smartphone, the computer and PKI applications.

Organizations also now have the ability to deploy the BlackBerry Smart Card Reader as a security accessory for BlackBerry smartphones, even if the organization does not use smart cards. Once paired with the BlackBerry Smart Card Reader via Bluetooth, the BlackBerry smartphone will automatically lock if it is out of range of the reader.

“The BlackBerry Smart Card Reader provides security-conscious organizations with another powerful tool for controlling access to computers and BlackBerry smartphones,” said Scott Totzke, Vice President, BlackBerry Security Group at RIM. “This new model of the BlackBerry Smart Card Reader further builds upon the security, flexibility and mobility of the trusted BlackBerry Enterprise Solution.”