The Yale Real Living line is the company’s first lock family specifically designed to integrate seamlessly into the digital home. Yale expects to be the first U.S. brand to offer residential locks that can be unlocked directly using NFC-enabled mobile phones. The Yale Real Living line will be compatible with the Assa Abloy/HID Global Mobile Keys platform, a scalable, secure delivery infrastructure for distribution and management of mobile keys. The platform allows credentials to be distributed securely through NFC-enabled mobile phones as an alternative to mechanical keys and physical access cards.

An Assa Abloy/HID Global Mobile Key can be issued over the air to an NFC-enabled smartphone on the Verizon network and then used to open an NFC-enabled Yale Real Living lock.

NFC is a short-range wireless communication technology standard that enables the exchange of data between devices up to a 10-centimeter distance. Applications include contactless transactions, such as keys, data transfers, including electronic business cards, and access to online digital content, as well as payment and ticketing. The Mobile Keys platform enabled by the NFC technology has already been introduced to the hospitality industry by Yale’s and HID Global’s parent company, Assa Abloy. Verizon Wireless also recently collaborated with HID Global on the first pilot of NFC smartphones carrying HID Global’s mobile keys for access control at a university.

“From a residential perspective, the mobile phone is ubiquitous,” said Jason Williams, general manager of Yale Residential. “We use it to make reservations, schedule our day, everything. By incorporating NFC technology into our Yale Real Living locks, we’ve extended the functionality of the mobile phone even further. What’s more, we’ve created a highly secure product that capitalises on Assa Abloy technology that is being extremely well received in other end-user markets. We are pleased to be working with Verizon Wireless to demonstrate the value of mobile keys on smartphones in its network.”

“HID Global and Verizon Wireless have been working closely to extend the value of NFC technology so that smartphones can also carry mobile keys for opening doors,” said Daniel Bailin, director of program management, with HID Global. “Now, with our sister company, Yale Locks & Hardware, we are again collaborating with Verizon Wireless to demonstrate the improved security and convenience of this concept in residential applications.”