POTENTIAL UNLOCKED: Yale Real Living NFC Deadbolt will be available in February

Lock maker Yale has introduced an NFC-based door lock for homes which can be operated with a tap of a smartphone and allows homeowners to send keys to others, control when others have access, get a notification when someone uses the lock, and revoke already issued digital keys at any time.

“The new Yale Real Living NFC Deadbolt replaces conventional keys with digital keys accessed through the Yale Digital Keys app for NFC-equipped Android mobile devices,” the company explains. “Homeowners can also unlock the deadbolt using its capacitive touchscreen and a four to eight-digit code, which makes the new deadbolt the only key-free digital lock that provides two electronic options for unlocking.”

The app displays a digital key ring which can be swiped to easily scan the keys held on the device, and colours and photos can be added to connect keys to locks and people.

“For convenience, the same digital key can be used to access multiple locks on one or more properties, and there’s no limit on the number of digital key users,” Yale adds. “For those instances when the phone isn’t handy, the deadbolt can be unlocked by entering an entry code into the keypad. It can hold up to 12 codes.

“The touchscreen, the same capacitive touchscreen in use for years on millions of Yale digital locks, wakes with a touch and is weather-tight and virtually indestructible. And as a true key-free lock, there’s no cylinder to pick or bump. Should the lock batteries drain, the lock can be powered by simply touching a nine-volt battery to the terminals at the bottom of the lock.”

The lock and app are powered by Seos technology, a platform for issuing, delivering and revoking digital keys across a range of smart devices. Seos was developed by Assa Abloy, Yale’s parent company, and is used in hotels, universities, hospitals, offices and commercial buildings.

“Our NFC lock and Digital Keys app deliver a new level of security, convenience and versatility to homeowners, and most importantly keeps it simple — all that’s needed is the lock and a phone to manage access to your home,” says Jason Williams, general manager at Yale Residential. “And Seos reassures homeowners that their homes are secured by robust, proven technology.”

The Yale Real Living NFC Deadbolt is a drop-in replacement for a standard deadbolt locking mechanism and will be available in February at US$225. The Yale Digital Keys app comes with five free digital keys, with additional digital keys available for $1.99 each on Google Play.