UniKey Technologies
TypePrivate
IndustryTechnology
Access control
Home security
Software
Founded2010
FounderPhil Dumas (president & CEO)
HeadquartersOrlando, Florida
BrandsKwikset Kevo
Number of employees
40–60
Websiteunikey.com

UniKey Technologies is an alternative access control company based in the United States that designs and licenses keyless entry technology worldwide. Its first product in partnership with Kwikset was Kēvo, a Bluetooth-enabled deadbolt door lock.

History

Unikey Technologies was founded in 2010 by Phil Dumas. The company gained recognition for developing innovative technology that allows smartphones to be used as digital keys for unlocking doors, cars, and other access points. This technology eliminates the need for traditional physical keys and provides users with a more convenient and secure way to access their homes, offices, or vehicles.[1]

Unikey's platform uses a combination of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and proprietary encryption algorithms to enable secure communication between smartphones and locking devices. The company aimed to revolutionize the way people interact with their environments by leveraging the ubiquity of smartphones.[2]

Kēvo Lock

Launched in 2013, Kēvo was the first Bluetooth-enabled touch-to-open smart lock.[3][4] Kēvo can detect a user's compatible smartphone or tablet (via an app) to lock and unlock the door. The deadbolt lock detects when the user's phone is nearby and if it's outside; the phone emits a low-energy Bluetooth signal, allowing the door to be unlocked when the lock face is touched, making it unnecessary to interact with the phone in order to open the door. Users can grant unrestricted or temporary access to other phones as well. Kēvo also comes with a keychain fob that provides the same touch-to-open function as an authorized smart phone.[5][6][7][8] The device also has the ability to detect whether a verified device is currently inside or outside the home. If an authorized device is known to be inside the house, unauthorized users are unable to activate Kēvo from outside.[9][10][11]

Partnerships

In June 2014, UniKey and MIWA Lock Company announced a partnership to offer keyless entry to hotels. UniKey developed a touch-to-open passive keyless entry system to be integrated into MIWA's existing radio-frequency identification hospitality locks. The keys are activated through smartphone apps. When guests check in through the app, they are sent their room number and the phone is enabled to act as a virtual key.[12][13] Following the MIWA partnership, UniKey has pursued the commercial access control industry through partnerships with Grosvenor Technologies and Nortek Security & Control. The company has also partnered with UK home security company ERA.

References

  1. ↑ "Unikey Technologies". Daily Routine. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Unikey Technologies". Daily Routine. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
  3. ↑ Wolpin, Stewart (2013-11-29). "UniKey Unlocks Doors by Touch, for 21st Century Entry". Mashable. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  4. ↑ Lindsey Adler, "UniKey is Making Our Keyless Future Happen", AV Network, May 6, 2014.
  5. ↑ Burns, Matt (2012-06-23). "After Surviving ABC's 'Shark Tank', Unikey Technologies Raises $1.1M For Smartphone Door Keys". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  6. ↑ Shontell, Alyson. "AT LAST: A Secure, Key-Free Way To Unlock Your Front Door Has Been Invented". Business Insider. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  7. ↑ "UniKey-powered Kevo aims to make Apple's iPhone the ultimate secure wireless house key". AppleInsider. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  8. ↑ J. Luis, "Kwikset Kevo Review", Gambit Magazine, May 19, 2014.
  9. ↑ Mikey Campbell, "Review: Kwikset's new iPhone-compatible 'Kevo' keyless deadbolt lock", AppleInsider, October 30, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Ny New York Locksmith". Wednesday, 23 October 2019
  11. ↑ "Locksmithqueens". Monday, November 29, 2021
  12. ↑ Nancy Trejos, "Going keyless is the key: The hotel room key goes mobile", USA Today, June 29, 2014.
  13. ↑ "HITEC 2014: UniKey and MIWA Team to Offer Keyless Entry Solution", Hospitality Technology, June 27, 2014.
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