INSIDE Contactless, France, has selected HID Corp., Irvine, Calif., as the company’s exclusive partner in the access control market. The development builds on a successful four-year history of the two companies working together, during which INSIDE has delivered nearly 10 million chips based on its PicoPass contactless chip technology for use within HID’s iClass 13.56 MHz contactless smart cards.

In line with the new agreement, HID intends to develop smart card reader products and component level solutions based on INSIDE’s PicoRead technology platform, as well as provide the PicoRead module to original equipment manufacturers, systems integrators and application providers as part of their iClass development partner program. This long-term, exclusive agreement provides HID with world class core contactless chip and reader technology, while providing INSIDE with the advantages of HID’s market position and distribution channels in the access control market.