At the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, a number of smartphone manufacturers demonstrated how their new models would be able to be used as ‘keys’ to unlock doors, much like smart cards do today when used in hotels, universities etc.
 
The secret behind this ability to turn a smartphone into a key comes courtesy of Near Field Communications (NFC) technology. This enables both commercial and residential lock systems to be unlocked with the phones thus providing an alternative method of door security other than mechanical keys and smart access cards.
 
This move towards creating keyless buildings by upping the game from proximity cards to smartphones is exciting stuff for companies in the access control world.  SALTO Systems are already anticipating the new technology with a complete product range of electronic locks and readers that are already NFC compatible. Among its many applications will be access control, where hotels will probably be among the first to employ smartphones as ‘electronic keys’. [www.saltosystems.com]