NFC technology has even more potential beyond acting as a wireless wallet. It can also be a key. Samsung is testing an app-based system at a Holiday Inn near Olympic Park that allows guests to not only use it to unlock their room door, but also order room service and other hotel amenities once inside. Just try not to leave it in the back of a cab.
In other news, Bump creators tackle streamlined photo sharing and a check out a castle made out of paper. See the headlines after the jump.
• Your Mobile Phone As A Door Key | Fast Company
• The Team Behind Bump Aims To Crack Photo Sharing On Smart Phones | Co.Design
• Behold This Incredible Castle, Made Entirely Out of Paper | Curbed
(Image: via Fast Company)
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Recently looked at an apartment that had this feature for both the apartment's door and the building door (separately, of course). Have had a lot of trouble with getting UPS deliveries at my current building and this way you can let the UPS/FedEx man in to leave packages at your door!
You just can't talk on the phone while opening the door. That's not a problem because this never happens...
Wow, I would be incredibly uncomfortable living in a building where some idiot neighbor could let in goodness-knows-whom remotely via a smartphone.
What about if your battery is dead and the charger's in the room, as per the question at the end of the Fast Company article. I'd rather deal with a real key, thanks.
Oh man. This is a cool idea. But my cell phone case also holds my credit card and ID. Imagine if it was also my housekey and I lost everything at once! That would be awful.