Technology
Yale wants to smartify Europe’s locks with one simple gadget
Smart lock maker Yale has a simple solution for making your smart lock even smarter.
Ahead of the IFA trade show in Berlin, the company launched the Yale Access module (known as Connected by August in the U.S., with August being Yale’s sister company that does smart lock software). It’s a simple Bluetooth gadget that can be added to existing Yale smart locks to give them several new features, including integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Yale Access can be used to lock or unlock the door through the device’s app. Users can also send keys to family, friends, and visitors, track lock activity, set automatic locking, and connect with home security systems such as SimpliSafe and Alarm.com.
Installing the Access module is simple enough for customers to be able to do it themselves.
Yale hopes the smarter locks, which aren’t that common in Europe, will also open the door (pun not intended) for easier management of services such as delivery and cleaning. In fact, Yale partnered with UK retailer Waitrose & Partners in a pilot program which enabled customers to grant temporary access codes for deliveries.
During a short demo in Berlin, Kate Clark, managing director of Yale EMEA, told me the reaction to the pilot program was extremely positive, with nearly all the users saying they want to keep the lock after the program ends.
The company is also launching Yale Connect in Europe for the first time, linking the smart lock to a Wi-Fi router and enabling remote functionality, including locking and unlocking the door from anywhere in the world.
-
Business7 days ago
Humanoid robots are learning to fall well
-
Entertainment6 days ago
2024 summer TV preview: 33 TV shows to watch this summer
-
Business6 days ago
Google Gemini: Everything you need to know about the new generative AI platform
-
Business4 days ago
Haun Ventures is riding the bitcoin high
-
Entertainment5 days ago
‘Bridgerton’: Everything you need to remember before Season 3
-
Entertainment4 days ago
Hands-on with the Claude AI app: It’s pleasant to use, but janky
-
Entertainment3 days ago
5 essential gadgets for turning your home into a self-care sanctuary
-
Entertainment4 days ago
How to unblock porn sites: Greatest VPN for porn in 2024