07 January 2013

Smartphones as Keys

It’s already possible to open doors using an app – but we are a long way from seeing widespread acceptance of this in the market. Now, researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology SIT in Darmstadt have developed a piece of software that will make the technology even more secure and versatile. Smartphones and tablets have become an integral part of our daily lives so researchers developed ShareKey, a software solution which will make the key app concept even more versatile and secure.


ShareKey offers two new functions: users can issue digital keys remotely and assign these keys certain user permissions. For instance, users can grant the building superintendent access to their apartments for a short period so that they can open the door for the gas meter to be read while they are at work. The solution is built around modern security technologies and can be easily integrated into existing access control systems. ShareKey sends electronic keys directly to the user’s mobile phone, in the form of a QR code attached to an e-mail or MMS.

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