How to turn your phone into a bunch of keys

11 Jan 08

If you’re anything like me, there’s a little routine you go through in your head before you leave the house. Mine goes something along the lines of “wallet, keys, phone”, but I’m sure some people have more complex lists of essentials they carry with them when they venture outside. Whatever your list includes, I bet you’d rather there was one less thing to lose.

The ECKey, invented by entrepreneur Nick Willis, aims to lighten the load by turning a mobile phone into a bunch of keys. The Bluetooth-enabled unit lets most modern mobile phones act as a unique key, unlocking vehicles and doors, opening car park barriers and even deactivating burglar alarms.

“I noticed that the cellphone was taking over all the things that you carry with you, diary, camera, address book, music player, even your wallet,” said Willis, “What about your keys? So I started thinking about how you can turn your phone into a key.”

How it works

Once the ECKey unit (a little black box) has been installed next to electronic locks, users can pair it with up to 20 mobile phones using a simple PIN code. Then, locks will automatically open when registered phones are detected within a pre-determined range. The system can be set up with a range of between one and 30m, and an automatic detection function means the system will work even if phones are kept in pockets or handbags. As soon as the phone goes out of range, the door locks again. (Click here to view a demonstration.)

Willis, who worked as a project manager in telecommunications for nine years before inventing ECKey, said, “The phone is going to replace the access card and key and carry all your access credentials for your office, home, car, sports club, car park, and gated community.”

Commercial uses

The technology is also being marketed towards businesses, with each employee’s phone set up to open certain doors within office blocks. Willis thinks this will cut down on the number of smartcards being lost – a common and expensive problem in many offices – whilst improving security.

The ECKey system works not only with mobile phones, but with a whole range of Bluetooth-enabled devices typically found in offices, including the new iPhone, PDAs, laptops and Bluetooth headsets.

Members clubs and gyms could also benefit from the technology as it allows passive or active entry without keys or tags. Commercial enterprises could even use the phone data they collect to send members information, updates and, of course, adverts.

Is it secure?

The ECKey website says the system’s security relies on both the ECKey and the phone being hidden from everyone else. However, each ECKey unit is set up with a unique PIN, which is used to create a private 128-bit encryption key. Neither the PIN nor the encryption key are ever transmitted, and ECKey will only communicate with registered devices.

Bluetooth technology was supposedly built with security in mind, but several threats have emerged in the last year. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group, a not-for-profit organisation that works to eliminate issues with the technology, has been encouraging consumers to use long alphanumeric PINs, to pair in private and to keep devices ‘undiscoverable’ when not in use.

ECKey has devised a five-step guide to get the system up and running quickly, but more complex programming will need a degree of technical expertise. The units are not weather-proof and should only be installed by trained personnel.

ECKey recently signed a deal with the Master Locksmiths Association of Australasia to provide relay units across Australia and New Zealand. Willis said the firm is now working on providing remote offline access battery-powered units will be released later in the year.

Visit the ECKey website to find out more.

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