World's first NFC-powered smart door lock

Finland-based company iLOQ successfully created the first smart door lock that can be opened and powered by an NFC-capable smartphone.

The smart lock is said to adopt PKI, mutual authentication and AES-256 encryption technologies. It incorporates NFC-powered cells that unlock the mechanism upon recognizing the NFC key or the mobile phone, and vice versa after. Users still need to turn the knob for entry though.

Setting authorized persons and disabling access can be done remotely through the cloud and opening records are sent in real time to the owner. The unit also comes with an app for easier management and control, and an NFC keyfob that can be used as an alternative for an NFC phone.

App controls are already becoming mainstream in smart door locks. In China, makers have rolled out mobile phone- and code-accessible, or Bluetooth-enabled locks. An advantage of iLOQ’s smart lock though, is that it offers a battery-free and at the same time keyless access control solution. There are a few new smart locks that have gone totally keyless but still rely on batteries or power supply. The product could be very in-demand because smart door locks is a line that is gaining traction as security becomes prioritized even more in smart homes.