NXP, the supplier of the well-known Mifare cards, recently announced a modification to the UID (Unique Identifier), the unique identification number that is integrated in each Mifare card. The length of this unique identifier, which was previously 4 bytes, has now been increased to 7 bytes for the new card. NXP expects that the transition to the new card will have been completed by the beginning of 2011. Supply of the old cards is expected to continue until the end of 2012 on the basis of limited availability.

Nedap's unique AEOS architecture has made it possible to adopt NXP's recent modification to the unique embedded identification number on its Mifare Classic cards without problems. Thanks to the unique architecture used by AEOS, this modification will have no adverse consequences for customers who use Nedap's Convexs and Invexs readers. Nedap's controllers and card readers can be upgraded with a simple click of the mouse.
This is strikingly simple in comparison to other access control systems where the card readers will have to be reprogrammed individually and even uncoupled from the controller in some cases. As a result, the door in question will be temporarily unserviceable and no access control or registration will take place. In the worst case, replacement of the card reader itself may prove necessary. When other access control systems are used, the impact and the costs of this change will therefore be both severe and substantial.

Users of Nedap's AEOS system however are spared these problems: the impact of this modification will be hardly noticeable and door security will be maintained at all access points.