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Alexa can unlock Yale's smart deadbolt locks
Amazon's Alexa has been useful for locking Yale's smart deadbolts, but what about unlocking them when there's a guest at the door? You're set after today. Yale has introduced Alexa support for unlocking its Assure Locks with voice commands. You'll need to set and remember a four-digit code, but that still makes it easy to let someone in without moving from the couch. You can always launch the app if you're not within range of a smart speaker.
Researchers create device that opens hotel doors with old key cards
Researchers at cybersecurity firm F-Secure have designed a device that can pull data off of hotel key cards and essentially create a master key for an entire hotel. Alarmingly, the key card doesn't even have to be currently in use. The device can steal data from the card whether it's functional or expired and can give the user access to pretty much any room in the hotel in just a matter of minutes. "It can be your own room key, a cleaning staff key, even to the garage or workout facility," F-Secure's Tomi Tuominen told Gizmodo. "We can even do it in an elevator if you have your key in your front pocket; we can just clone it from there."
Smart lock company August Home purchased by actual lock company Yale
Smart-lock outfit Yale's parent company is buying August Home, in a move that may consolidate some of the smart lock market. The regulatory bodies involved are expected to approve Sweden-based Assa Abloy's purchase by year's end. "August Home strengthens our residential smart door strategy with complementary smart locks, expansion into video doorbells and comprehensive solutions for home delivery," ASSA's executive vice president Thanasis Molokotos said in a statement.
Assa Abloy developing NFC-enabled key cards for BlackBerry handsets, locked doors
The BlackBerry of the future may just unlock new doors -- literally. This week, RIM inked a new partnership with Sweden's own Assa Abloy, the company behind those NFC-enabled door locks we've seen in recent years. In a statement released Tuesday, Assa Abloy said it was working with the handset manufacturer to develop similar key card technology for the BlackBerry Bold 9900 and 9930, as well as the BlackBerry Curve 9350 and 9360. According to the company, the idea is to allow BlackBerry users to enter corporate facilities using only their handsets, thereby replacing traditional access cards, though the technology could also be incorporated into residential buildings or garage doors. This would marks the first time that Assa Abloy has implemented its NFC systems into a mobile system, though the firm pointed out that its deal with RIM isn't exclusive, suggesting that similar arrangements with other manufacturers may be in the pipeline.
ASSA ABLOY trials remote hotel check-ins, unlocking your room with NFC cellphones (video)
Just think of it, no more hanging around your hotel's front desk like some unrefined homo erectus. The Clarion Hotel in Stockholm is starting up a new pilot program to allow visitors to check in and collect their room key without the repugnant need for speaking to an actual human being -- it can all be done with an NFC-equipped mobile phone. Provided your smartphone can do the near-field communications dance, all your information can be remotely downloaded, stored, and wiped (if need be), and you can even check out from a room using the accompanying application. Samsung handsets are being provided to selected customers during the period of this trial, though once its four-month incubation period is over, you'll have to bring your own bit of advanced telephony to avoid the queues. We're sure you'll think of something. Video and full press release after the break.
