Global InformationLockitron information
 | |
 The Lockitron Bolt smart lock, keypad, and bridge | |
| Also known as | Lockitron |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Apigy Inc. |
| Availability | May 2011 |
| Introductory price | 99 to 179 USD depending on model and accessories |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Connectivity | WiFi Low Energy |
| Power | 4AA Batteries, lasting for 6 months |
| Website | lockitron.com at the Wayback Machine (archived 2018-03-27) |
Lockitron is a device which can lock and unlock doors via remote control, typically via a smartphone. Starting with installations in 2010, it is one of the earliest examples of a smart lock. Lockitron was made by Apigy Inc., a start-up based in Mountain View, California. Apigy was a graduate of the Y Combinator start-up accelerator.[1]
Multiple models of Lockitron were manufactured, including one that fits over the lock control mechanism on the inside of a door, and the door could be unlocked via an app on the phone, or via web page control. Phones with Bluetooth Low Energy could automatically unlock a door when an authenticated device was nearby.[2] A supplied NFC tag could be read to trigger a command to toggle the state of the lock.[3]
Virtual "keys" could be issued to guests or repair contractors etc., allowing access to the home. The virtual keys could be distributed over the internet on demand, and can also be revoked on demand.[4] The door could also be locked or unlocked via an SMS "key" for those without smartphones.[5]
All models of Lockitron allowed for a traditional lock which continues to work with traditional metal keys.[6] When a metal key was used, some models of Lockitron sent a notification to a smartphone.[7]
Lockitron was notable for offering an open, web-accessible API.[8] Lockitron supported integration with the Ring Video Doorbell and its predecessor DoorBot, a doorbell system that sends video and voice from the door to a smartphone.[9][10][11] Other devices that have integrated with the Lockitron API include the Pebble Smartwatch, which allowed you to directly lock and unlock a Lockitron from your wrist, and IFTTT, which connected Lockitron to platforms and devices like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Nest.[12]
- ^ "Lockitron: Lockitron makes electronic locks you can control locally from your… | Y Combinator". www.ycombinator.com. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
- ^ "Lockitron launches iPhone-controlled keyless lock that pings you when someone knocks (video)". Engadget.
- ^ Grove, Jennifer Van. "Use Your Phone To Lock & Unlock Doors From Anywhere in the World". Mashable.
- ^ "Tools of Entry, No Need for a Key Chain". The New York Times. 4 July 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-04.
- ^ "Lockitron: Unlock Your Home With Your Cellphone".
- ^ Burns, Matt. "YC-Alum Lockitron Is Back With A New Kit That Allows Smartphones To Control Dumb Deadbolts". TechCrunch.
- ^ "Nothing found for 2013 01 21 How Houses Are Getting Smarter More Connected". Archived from the original on 2013-02-25. Retrieved 2013-02-19.
- ^ "Lockitron". api.lockitron.com. Archived from the original on 2019-02-25. Retrieved 2016-12-23.
- ^ "Home Automation Future and Present: WiFi Lightbulbs, Speakers and Doorlocks". 14 February 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-02-18.
- ^ NAASEL, KENRYA RANKIN. "DoorBot Lets You Answer The Door When You're Not Home". Fast Company. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
- ^ Noe, Rain. "The DoorBot and the Lockitron: Kickstarter Sidesteppers Partnering Up". Core77.
- ^ "One Day Left to Reserve Lockitron for $149". Archived from the original on 2012-11-05.