Kevo Lock From KwikSet Removes Need For Keys

The idea of using technology to secure your home is a growing trend with more companies entering the field this year. Being able to open your front door without actually using a key is going to be the future and more of that technology is now using your smart phone as the mechanism to achieve the security. Much of the focus has moved to door locks with various abilities to lock or unlock your door. The latest one which is entering the market is going to be the Kevo deadbolt lock from Kwikset. And since they are a major player in the door lock industry, it makes this one interesting to look and view it as a solution for home security.

The Kwikset Kevo lock is an interesting new item coming very soon. At the moment, there is no set date for release or availability, but your can add your email address to a list and receive notifications for further information. But, with no pricing being announced, the Kevo becomes an unknown as to how well it will do. Some are speculating that the price will come in under $250. And, they are saying there will be no annual subscription fees for the service. As you can see from the picture, there is a blue halo that shows on the lock and gives it an interesting look. It is not know as to how practical that will be in actual use. If your door faces the street, it will make the lock highly visible. We can hope that they will provide some way of turning off the futuristic looking blue ring on the Kevo as to attract less attention.

There are some great features coming for the Kevo. One is the use of Bluetooth to open your door instead of having to take your phone out. You merely touch the lock with a finger and because your iPhone is in your pocket, the Kevo opens the lock and lets you in. And if you are already home, someone coming up and touching the lock will not get it to open giving you additional security. At the moment, the included app is only going to be available on the iPhone and not for Android owners. That is not going to help the sales as much as it could given the large number of Android smart phone owners.

And to those who do not have a smart phone, the Kevo will have an available key fob which you can attach to a key ring which will operate in the same manner allowing you to touch the lock with a finger to unload the door. And you can still use a key to unlock the door in the soon to be old fashion way. There is also a feature which will let you grant others access to unlock your front door by giving them an "eKey" which they can use to open the Kevo via their web portal. That will give that person the ability to unlock the door using the Kevo app and their iPhone. And you can remove their access via the web portal. As with any electronics, there is a battery component which comes into play. They are reporting that 4 AA batteries will power the Kevo for a year before needing to be replaced.

Another of the unknowns for the Kevo is how much space the batteries are going to take up in the unit. None of the pictures or information for the Kevo show interior pictures as we expect it to be large enough to hold the batteries. The Kevo looks like a great product. The big question is just how big it will be as compared to some other products. We reported on the Lockitron last month and with an expected price of $179, it is cheaper than the Kevo. And it has the ability to lock or unlock your deadbolt remotely. That single feature may be the key difference in what people are looking for.

The Kevo will more than likely be a very popular item for new homes which have built in technology for home security.