Consumers in South Korea can now use their smartphones as digital keys thanks to a solution from ASSA ABLOY Group brand iRevo and leading telecommunications company Korea Telecom.
With the Mobile Key Service, launched in South Korea in October, users can open Gateman digital door locks (DDLs) by simply swiping their smartphones over the lock, removing the need for physical keys or passcodes.
To enjoy this service, users only need a Gateman DDL and a smartphone from Korea Telecom enabled with the ASSA ABLOY Mobile Key Service app.
The Mobile Key Service is useful both for those within the household, as well as for people who hire housekeepers or baby-sitters, for example. Traditionally, a DDL passcode or a mechanical key is given to a person who needs to enter the house, but this puts home security at risk. With the Mobile Key Service, users simply send a “key” to the visitor's smartphone for them to open the DDL. Different digital keys can be issued to different visitors, and each visitor can only open the DDL at specified times and dates.
To ensure data security and to prevent hacking, the information sent between DDLs and smartphones is encoded. Moreover, the digital key is safely stored in an USIM – an upgraded SIM with improved security.
Min Ghi Koo, Head of Domestic Sales & Marketing at iRevo, says: “Our next step is to offer the Mobile Key Service to a variety of customers, both commercial and residential.”