Gadget Gestures

Lets Gesture about Gadgets

Saturday, January 23, 2021
Log in
  • News
  • Tablets
  • SmartPhones
  • Laptops
  • Cameras
  • Games
  • Apps/Softwares
  • iPad/iPhone
  • Latest News
    • Lenovo A10000, A30000 and A60000
    • TV Has Never Been this Smart – the New Motto of Samsung Smart TVs
    • Nokia Lumia 1020 on Sale at AT&T
    • How Can a Sniffer Help in Detecting Lost or Stolen Mobile Phones?
    • Amazon expected to launch FireTube TV box before Christmas
    • Nokia Lumia 521 Release Date,Features, Specs, Price- Will be Available through T- Mobile
    • New Mercedes-Maybach S600, Priced At 200,000 dollars
    • Intel unveils Jarvis, Edison and dual-OS processors
    • Blackberry Z10 Problems of over heating, Rebooting: Even New BB 10 OS is not Helping
    • Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3 – Compare Possible Price, Design, Display, Features
    • Evernote Integration of New Google Drive Button
    • White Nexus 4 Release Date Subdue Possibilities of Verizon Nexus 4 LTE

Hotel Room Keys Replaced by Smartphones

By Leave a Comment

Email, RSS Follow

 

Some hotels have begun giving their guests the option of by-passing check-in by simply using their smartphones as keys. One of these hotels is the Starwood group, which has upgraded 30,000 room locks in more than 150 hotels so that the system works perfectly.

The hotel uses Bluetooth technology to make sure that an encrypted, secure channel is used so that thieves do not abuse the innovation. For the past year, Starwood group has been working on developing the SPG system so that guests no longer require conventional keys.

Users simply need to go through a one-time registration process that makes them receive a Push notification containing their room number. After walking into the hotel and up to the communicated room, the smartphone acts as a key opening the lock.

One of the system’s advantages is security-at least in part. As opposed to not noticing the key going missing, when a smartphone suddenly disappears, users notice. The ability of detecting a loss is very quick. The key is not only delivered directly to the smartphone on an encrypted channel, it also is locked to the receiving device. If the phone is lost, the key can be removed.

The system does not use already existing Bluetooth protocols. Instead, it creates its own encrypted channels which have rotating keys. As such, security is quite high.

“Nothing is 100% secure, and once this technology is in widespread use it will make a very tasty target for hackers,”keys

Prof Alan Woodward from the University of Surrey’s department of computing said.

“It may be more secure than a standard hotel swipe card lock but use of strong security features such as AES encryption and ‘rotating keys’ does not mean someone won’t find an alternate way in. They will need to watch, learn and adapt if they are to keep their guests secure.”

So what are the benefits of deciding for the smartphone hotel-key system? It’s not just that the smartphone isn’t demagnetized (such as magnetic swipe cards). The developers of the keyless-system claim that Onity magnetic key card locks are easily hacked with an Adruino. Moreover, skipping the check-in process altogether and heading directly to one’s hotel room does seem like an added bonus.

There are some cons to the idea, however. Consider battery life. If the phone dies for some reason, guests could be forced to seek other solutions.

Regardless, starting November 5th, ten of Starwood’s hotels will enable keyless entry via the SPG app. Next year, Hilton is also expected to hop on the SPG wagon with approximately 4,000 hotels upgrading their locks to fit the SPG system.

Email, RSS Follow

Filed Under: News Tagged With: bluetooth, hotel keys, keys, smartphone, smartphone hotel keys, smartphone keys, spg, starwood group, starwood hotel

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 5 other subscribers

Recent Articles

GitHub stickers displaying a cat-octopus with a human face

Microsoft Acquires GitHub for $7.5 Billion’s Worth of Shares

By Leave a Comment

Teenage girl browsing her smartphone while sitting at the table

Facebook Is No Longer the Top Social Media Platform Among Teenagers

By Leave a Comment

Fake news headline on a laptop screen

Facebook Is Taking Its Fight Against Misinformation to a Whole New Level

By Leave a Comment

Unsolved Rubik cube on a black background

An Australian Professional Speedcuber Broke His Own Record at Solving a Rubik Cube

By Leave a Comment

Cambridge Analytica logo on a computer screen

Soon After the Facebook Scandal, Cambridge Analytica Is Going Bankrupt

By Leave a Comment

Windows restore disk placed in a paper envelope for CDs

Renowned E-Waste Recycler Goes to Jail for Distributing Free Windows Restore Disks

By Leave a Comment

nasa globe and emblem outside a building

NASA Announces its Investments in Future Tech Concepts Such as Biobots and Shapeshifters

By Leave a Comment

YouTube app opened in browser with the logo on top of it

YouTube Increases the Number of Ads to Trick Users into Subscribing to Its Paid Streaming Platform

By Leave a Comment

Facebook dislike button

Facebook Stock Falling for Second Straight Day amid Data Scandal

By Leave a Comment

Permanently Delete Facebook

WhatsApp Founder to Facebook Users: ‘Delete Facebook’

By Leave a Comment

Uber driverless car

Uber Driverless Car Kills Woman in Arizona

By Leave a Comment

Windows 10 Update reaches 35%

Microsoft: Windows 10 Updates To Take No Longer than 30 Min

By Leave a Comment

The Apple Watch

Apple Watch User Awakened by 3 Cops In His Bedroom after Accidental Call

By Leave a Comment

Pokemon Go Character

Pokemon Go Player Attacks Other Player IRL for Losing Gym

By Leave a Comment

Pages

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy GDPR
  • Team

Recent Posts

  • Samsung Tablet 10.1 Review: Perfect for Your Entertainment Needs
  • Take Better Pictures Today With These 9 Helpful IPhone Camera Settings
  • The 6 Best Gaming Desks to Give You a Great View
  • How Much RAM Do I Need for Gaming? Here’s the Sweet Spot for Optimal Performance
  • Lenovo Ideapad Yoga 11s Review: A Teaser
  • Basic Computer Skills – 6 Tips You Need to Know!
  • Why is my Laptop Fan so Loud? Six Possible Reasons for the Noisy Nuisance

Related Articles

  • GitHub stickers displaying a cat-octopus with a human face

    Microsoft Acquires GitHub for $7.5 Billion’s Worth of Shares

  • Teenage girl browsing her smartphone while sitting at the table

    Facebook Is No Longer the Top Social Media Platform Among Teenagers

  • Fake news headline on a laptop screen

    Facebook Is Taking Its Fight Against Misinformation to a Whole New Level

  • Unsolved Rubik cube on a black background

    An Australian Professional Speedcuber Broke His Own Record at Solving a Rubik Cube

  • Cambridge Analytica logo on a computer screen

    Soon After the Facebook Scandal, Cambridge Analytica Is Going Bankrupt

  • Windows restore disk placed in a paper envelope for CDs

    Renowned E-Waste Recycler Goes to Jail for Distributing Free Windows Restore Disks

  • nasa globe and emblem outside a building

    NASA Announces its Investments in Future Tech Concepts Such as Biobots and Shapeshifters

  • YouTube app opened in browser with the logo on top of it

    YouTube Increases the Number of Ads to Trick Users into Subscribing to Its Paid Streaming Platform

  • Facebook dislike button

    Facebook Stock Falling for Second Straight Day amid Data Scandal

  • Permanently Delete Facebook

    WhatsApp Founder to Facebook Users: ‘Delete Facebook’

Copyright © 2021 GadgetGestures.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Contact

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more.