Amazon’s door lock API makes Alexa commands easier for smart lock partners

It might become easier to unlock the door at home by talking to Alexa, since Amazon just released a Door Lock API to its Alexa Skills Kit.

Amazon’s smart lock partners include Schlage, Yale, Kwikset, August, Vivint and Z-Wave. Users may control door locks or check their status by saying “Alexa, ask August to lock the front door” or “Alexa, is my front door locked?”

With this API, commands must include the brand of the device. For instance, users can check the status by asking “Alexa, is my door locked?” But they must say “Alexa, ask Yale to lock my door” to make the other connected device work.

Schlage has added the Alexa support to its Schlage Connect Touchscreen Deadbolt allowing Amazon Echo to lock or check the status of the door. Users can simply talk to Alexa to lock the door or use Schlage’s one-touch locking feature, and unlock the door by entering the preset code numbers.

Other smart locks from Kwikset and Yale also start to support Alexa. Users will need a smart home hub such as Samsung SmartThings or Wink Labs’ Wink Hub installed at home. The locks themselves don’t have microphones and don’t directly connect to the Internet.

Kwikset adds its Kwikset SmartCode 910-, 914- and 916-series locks to the Alexa support list, while Yale hasn’t announced its chosen models.

Users won’t be able to unlock doors by talking to Alexa; they can only check the status or lock the door since the virtual assistant cannot differentiate the voices between homeowners and of burglars. For now, the unlock feature only works for August’s smart lock products.

Also, the capability only supports two smart home hubs for now – SmartThings and Wink. It’s unclear if Amazon will roll out the feature to other smart home hubs in the future.