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Kwikset Kēvo transforms your smartphone into your smart key of the future

shark-tank-product-demo from Tech Blog on Vimeo.

In what is a breakthrough move toward my dream of a fully automated home, UniKey has built a smart door lock like something delivered by someone from the future.

We have all found ourselves with our hands full fumbling for the right key to our front door, but now the Kwikset Kēvo lock powered by UniKey allows you to unlock the front door of your home with just the tap of your finger.

UniKey President Phil Dumas was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank, a reality show featuring aspiring entrepreneurs pitching their big idea to potential investors, where he demonstrated “UniKey’s Technology” which transformed into Kwikset Kēvo.

The company’s Kēvo replaces your standard door lock with a smart lock that allows you to assign digital keys to friends and family with compatible smartphones, or assign temporary keys with specific rules to visitors and neighbors.

The Kwikset Kēvo lock powered by UniKey features and benefits include:

eKey (smartphone): Works when the smartphone is in your pocket or purse, the App is running and Bluetooth® is turned on.

eKey (keychain fob): No Smartphone? No Problem. An included fob works immediately out the box and contains the same “touch-to-open” lock and unlock eKey technology.

Send or Delete eKeys: eKeys can be sent for anytime, one-time, or limited time use to authorize for a specific amount of time and can be deleted at any time. Anytime eKey holders can be granted admin rights that allow them to send and delete keys to that particular lock. eKey notifications are received in push notifications within the UniKey App, via e-mail, and optional SMS text.

Key Recovery: Upgraded your phone? Replaced a lost phone? Simply log into the free UniKey App on another phone, and all your keys instantly transfer to the new phone and are deleted from the former phone.

Notifications and Logs: You have peace of mind and confidence that when it comes to managing access to your home, you’re conveniently in control. Events are captured in your log, but can also be received as a notification at an additional charge as a message via an in-App push announcement, optional email or SMS text. Who is accessing your home and when? Have your children arrived home? You’ll know. Has the service vendor shown up? You’ll know. Did your neighbor get in to feed your pet? You’ll know.

Battery Powered: Powered by four AA batteries for over a year with normal use, the Kwikset Kēvo lock is not reliant on your house’s power or internet. In the event of a power outage, you’re always able to get in and out of your house. A battery level indicator is in the App and notifications provide plenty of warning to change batteries.  As a last resort, you can always use an included old-fashioned key.

Visitor Lock: Now anyone leaving your home without an eKey can conveniently lock the door behind them by triple tapping the lock.

The company has yet to announce pricing and availability, but we expect to hear more in the coming months.

You can sign up now to be one of the first to pre-order the Kwikset Kēvo today.

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Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.