Smartphone applications may soon be used to open and lock doors in universities, offices and even homes.
Smartphone applications may soon be used to open and lock doors in universities, offices and even homes, thanks to new software currently being developed by a company called HID global.
The software unlocks the door by interacting with physical ID card readers, either through an application or by swiping the smartphone near the device.
Pilot projects of digital keys are being tested across offices and universities in the United States.Positive feedback has been received after a month long trial at Arizona State University, with many staff and students wanting to use the keys across further facilities.
Like all new technologies, however, there are still bugs that need to be ironed out. Among complaints about the system were locks remaining closed while telephone conversations were in progress, and some phones freezing in the application.
President and Chief Executive of HID, Denise Hébert, says he expects the software to be in Europe by the second half of next year.
