The Kevo deadbolt from Kwikset uses Bluetooth Low Energy and an app for your smartphone to allow you to unlock your door just by touching it. The Kevo smart lock package includes one deadbolt, one fob, two mechanical keys and two smartphone eKeys available for download. The deadbolt comes in three finishes including Satin Nickel, Venetian Bronze and Polished Brass. Kevo runs on four AA batteries, which should last for up to a year. The unit is due to go on sale later this month for around $220
Recognizing that smartphones have become digital extensions of the body, with 79 percent of people ages 18 – 44 having their smartphones on them for 22 hours a day, Kwikset, a leading brand of the Hardware & Home Improvement division of Spectrum Brands Holdings, has partnered with UniKey Technologies Inc to transform the smartphone into a key.
Now available for pre-order, Kevo is the first deadbolt intelligent enough to communicate with a smartphone and unlock with a simple touch. This technology is so convenient that the user doesn’t even need to remove the smartphone from their pocket or purse when unlocking their door.
“Kevo is a game-changing door lock that uses modern technology and the convenience of touch to evolve the traditional key, something that has never been done before,” said Greg Gluchowski, president, HHI.
How Kevo Works – The one-of-a-kind Bluetooth-enabled deadbolt allows for an entirely new interface for keys, using the latest Bluetooth Low Energy 4.0 technology. The Kevo mobile app turns a smartphone into an electronic key (eKey) and allows the deadbolt to recognize and respond quickly to the touch of a finger, all while communicating seamlessly with the Kevo app in the background of the smartphone.
“UniKey’s innovative touch-to-open system creates a platform for how we will interact with locks in the future,” said Phil Dumas, president, UniKey. “By uniquely combining existing mobile and Bluetooth technologies, we’re bringing your front door into the digital age without compromising the look or security of the lock.”
With Kwikset’s long-time leadership in residential door lock security and UniKey’s expertise in secured authentication technology, Kevo is engineered for both maximum security and technology performance. Kevo includes UniKey’s patent-pending intelligent positioning technology that detects whether an authorized user is inside or outside of the home before granting access to prevent unauthorized entry. Kevo also uses multiple levels of encryption to increase digital security, and is tested to some of the most stringent lock picking and physical security standards. The lock contains Kwikset’s patented SmartKey re-key technology, which provides superior security and re-key convenience unlike any other smart lock on the market.
Kevo is compatible with smartphones that support Bluetooth Smart Ready/Bluetooth 4.0 and have the Kevo mobile app installed. The app is currently available for iPhone 4S and 5, as well as the fifth generation iPod touch, third generation or higher iPad and iPad mini. The app will become available for additional devices, pending software upgrades to support Bluetooth Smart Ready/Bluetooth 4.0. Development of the App for Android and Blackberry is currently underway.
www.kwikset.com/kevo : Available From Amazon : More Smart Home Security
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The smart lock revolution looks to be gaining steam thanks to BLE technology. There are at least 4 new products coming to market by the end of 2013. I think businesses may find some good use with this, such as vacation rentals and real estate agents looking to move away from the hassle of managing keys and entry codes.