Vicon Industries announced the release of VAX Access Control, version 2.9.60.

This latest VAX version includes powerful feature enhancements to software as well as new hardware options that offer cost savings and programming flexibility. VAX now offers a Master Multi-Door Controller for 2 to 8 doors.

Compact and powerful, the new panel is designed for mounting in equipment rooms and for seamless conversion to VAX in retrofit projects, where it will significantly reduce labor and hardware costs.

The Multi-Door Controllers offer all the same functionality as VAX over-the-door controllers, including the new ability to program and store customized actions at the door level.

These can be executed from inputs, triple swipes or user credential presentations and require no connection to the server. In addition, all new VAX controllers now support live firmware updates that can be automatically pushed to them from the VAX server, ensuring that entire networks stay current with minimal to no down time.

VAX?s updated software interface offers a new monitoring layout that clearly displays easy-to-view tiles for each of the last 12-16 reader events, including users? names and photos.

System operators can customize the layout of the tile display depending on their monitoring preferences. In addition, administrators can receive an immediate, pop-up notification for specified events. These notifications may include custom text, images and even display corresponding video from a surveillance camera.

VAX 2.9.60 also provides enhanced monitoring capabilities for unmanaged doors. Doors without access readers can now be monitored for door strikes and operators can easily call up associated cameras. This provides security teams with important visibility into the access of unsecured areas within facilities.

Mobile credentialing offers a new level of convenience for VAX customers who prefer to use their smartphones instead of cards or fobs. Upon installing a special smartphone app, users can scan their own, unique VAX credentials into their phones, allowing them to communicate via Bluetooth with specialized door readers.

When users come within a few feet of a reader, the door will unlock, without any need to remove their phones from pockets or purses.

Other new features include enhanced controls for time zones and holiday schedules, more complex logic-based programming at the door level, and the ability to support installations where site codes are not available or are inconsistent.

Bret McGowan, Vicon?s V.P. of Sales and Marketing, explains, ?In the past two years, VAX has proven to be popular with our customers both as a stand-alone solution and for its built-in integration with Vicon?s Valerus VMS. With the launch of our new Master Door Controller, as well as many new software features, we expect to see continued strong market growth, particularly from retrofit projects.?

Vicon has been a leading provider of mission-critical security surveillance systems, since 1967.