In a groundbreaking collaboration, industry giants Apple, Google, and Samsung, along with lock makers Allegion (Schlage) and Assa Abloy (Yale), as well as chip makers Qualcomm and NXP, are working together to create an open standard for smart locks and digital keys. The initiative, named Aliro, aims to standardize access control systems, allowing smartphones and smartwatches to seamlessly and universally unlock smart locks.
Aliro, derived from the Esperanto word for “Access,” is being developed by over 200 companies using a similar partnership model as the Connectivity Standards Alliance’s (CSA) smart home standard, Matter. The goal of Aliro is to create a global communication protocol and common credentialing system, eliminating the need for specific phone or lock brands when accessing homes, offices, gyms, or other spaces.
The development of Aliro began in late 2021 through the Access Control Working Group, which includes big names like Apple, Google, Allegion, ASSA ABLOY, Qualcomm, Samsung, and NXP Semiconductors. The principles guiding Aliro’s development are simplicity, flexibility, security, and interoperability. The aim is to reduce complexity in integration, support different installations, ensure state-of-the-art security, and enable devices from different manufacturers to work together seamlessly.
Currently, using digital access for doors, offices, hotels, or gyms typically requires downloading a proprietary app, having a specific phone, or carrying a tag or card reader. Aliro seeks to standardize these access points, making digital keys readily available on smartphones, smartwatches, or other consumer electronic devices. Similar to Apple’s Home Key technology, the digital key would be stored in a phone’s digital wallet, accessible on a smartwatch, and compatible with any lock that supports the Aliro standard. The owner of the lock would have control over key access and management through an app.
According to Nelson Henry, the chair of the Aliro Working Group, the aim is to create a widely adopted and trusted solution, replacing individual and unique solutions offered by different companies. Aliro aims to become the standard solution for the interaction between access points and personal digital devices. When an access point bears the Aliro badge, it implies that it can be integrated with multiple vendors and technologies securely.
Despite being in development for over a year, Aliro is still in the conceptual stage. There is no official specification or product available yet, and it may take at least 18 months to materialize. However, with Allegion and Assa Abloy spearheading the collaboration and Apple, Google, and Samsung also on board, Aliro is another promising industry collaboration that has the potential to reshape the market, similar to the Matter standard.
Lisa Corte of Assa Abloy, the marketing chair of Aliro, emphasized that the collaboration aims to establish an interoperable, consistent, secure, and streamlined mobile access experience at various entry points. The development process for Aliro is expected to be meticulous, learning from the challenges faced by the Matter standard. However, there is still a long road ahead, including the need to onboard more lock and access companies to finalize the specification for implementation by smartphone and lock manufacturers.
Some progress has been made as the initial work on the specification focuses on defining core technologies, allowing for flexibility in addressing different use cases. The specification supports Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and Ultra-Wideband (UWB) experiences. NFC and BLE are already widely used in many smart locks, including Apple’s Home Key.
It is important to note that Aliro is a separate endeavor from Matter, even though they are both part of the CSA and involve many of the same companies. Aliro focuses on the interaction between user devices and digital locks or readers, while Matter specifies how connected products communicate in various smart home scenarios. While Aliro and Matter are not reliant on each other, they can complement each other.
There are still many unknowns about Aliro, such as whether it will be backward compatible with existing door locks and the timeline for implementation in new products. However, if successful, Aliro could revolutionize access control, allowing users to use their phones or smartwatches as universal keys. A future without the need for multiple apps, key fobs, or cards to unlock doors is within reach.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it