Smartphones and tablets become an integral part of our daily lives. The capabilities of handily sized mini-computers seem almost boundless as we phone friends, shoot snaps, lose ourselves in a new music download or access the internet to obtain the card for our next flight. Does it not seem logical, then, that we should use of these constant companions as the key to our cars, doors or lockers as well? A few such solutions are already , but what is still missing is widespread market acceptance systems. ShareKey sends electronic keys directly to the user's phone, in the form of a QR code attached to an e-mail or MMS.
ShareKey works using the Near Field Communication (NFC) transmission standard, which data to be exchanged wirelessly over short ranges of to a few centimeters. Communication between the mobile phone and a central server is by established security protocols. Even if this communication is hacked into, it is impossible for unauthorized people to gain access to the key. The trend towards a 'shareconomy' benefit the further development of this technology. So the era of mobile phones as keys is step closer.