UniKey

UniKey Technologies is an alternative access control company based in the United States that designs and licenses keyless entry technology worldwide. Its first product in partnership with Kwikset is Kēvo, a Bluetooth-enabled deadbolt door lock.

This article is about the United States home security company. For the Vietnamese keyboarding software, see UniKey (software).
UniKey Technologies
TypePrivate
IndustryTechnology
Access control
Home security
Software
Founded2010
FounderPhil Dumas (president & CEO)
HeadquartersOrlando, Florida
BrandsKwikset Kevo
Number of employees
40–60
Websiteunikey.com

History

UniKey Technologies was founded in 2010 in Florida by Phil Dumas, who serves as president and chief executive officer.[1][2] He has an electrical engineering degree from the University of Central Florida and a background in biometric security. Dumas was part of the team that launched SmartScan, the first mass-market biometric residential deadbolt lock. He started UniKey in an effort to create a more dependable and convenient way to access everything.[1][2][3]

UniKey Technologies first came to the public's attention in May 2012, when Dumas appeared on ABC's reality series Shark Tank.[4][5] UniKey received investment offers from all five judges on the show,[5] including an offer of $500,000 for a 40% equity stake from Mark Cuban and Kevin O'Leary.[1] Dumas accepted the offer, but they ultimately were unable to come to terms after the show.[1][2] By 2013, UniKey had raised approximately $2.6 million in funding, led by ff Venture Capital.[5] That year, UniKey announced a licensing deal with Kwikset, the largest residential lock manufacturer in the United States and one of the largest in the world, to manufacture and distribute Kēvo, a residential smart lock using UniKey's technology.[2][5]

Products

Launched in 2013, Kēvo is the first Bluetooth-enabled touch-to-open smart lock.[6][7] Kēvo has the ability to detect a user's compatible smartphone or tablet via an app, to lock and unlock the door. The deadbolt lock senses when the user's phone is nearby and when it's outside; the phone emits a low-energy Bluetooth signal, allowing the door to be unlocked when the lock face is touched, making it unnecessary to interact with the phone in order to open the door. Users can grant unrestricted or temporary access to other phones as well. Kēvo also comes with a keychain fob that provides the same touch-to-open function as an authorized smart phone.[1][5][8][9] A prime security feature of the product is UniKey's Inside/Outside Intelligence, which detects whether a verified device is currently inside or outside the home. If an authorized device is known to be inside the house, unauthorized users are unable to activate Kēvo from outside. The system acts as a one-way filter that lets only authorized users pass through the entryway.[10][11]

Partnerships

In June 2014, UniKey and MIWA Lock Company announced a partnership to offer keyless entry to hotels. UniKey has developed a touch-to-open passive keyless entry system to be integrated into MIWA's existing radio-frequency identification hospitality locks. The keys are activated through smartphone apps. When guests check in through the app, they are sent their room number and the phone is enabled to act as a virtual key.[12][13] Following the MIWA partnership, UniKey is making its way into the commercial access control industry through partnerships with Grosvenor Technologies and Nortek Security and Control. The company has also expanded its international reach with a partnership with UK home security company ERA.

Milestones
Date Event
April 2010 UniKey Technologies founded.[2]
May 18, 2012 Founder Phil Dumas appears on Shark Tank on ABC (season 3, episode 15).[4]
June 2012 UniKey receives venture capital funding.[5]
October 2013 UniKey's first product, Kēvo, made available in the US (through Kwikset) and Canada (through Weiser).[14]
June 2014 UniKey partners with MIWA to offer keyless entry to hotels.[12]
April 2015 UniKey receives 10 million dollars in Series A Round.[15]
October 2015 UniKey partners with ERA to bring the first smart lock to the UK.[16]
September 2016 UniKey partners with Haven Lock to produce Haven Connect.[17]
December 2016 UniKey Partners with Leader in Global Access Control Solutions, Grosvenor Technology.[18]
April 2017 UniKey Partners with leader in security, home control, and wellness tech, Nortek Security & Control.[19]
June 2017 UniKey receives 5 million dollars in Venture Capital.[20]
January 2018 UniKey and RemoteLock Partnership[21]
April 2018 UniKey Technologies and the Hillman Group launch KeyHero[22]

[23]

References
  1. Matt Burns, "After Surviving ABC's Shark Tank, Unikey Technologies Raises $1.1M For Smartphone Door Keys", Tech Crunch, June 22, 2012.
  2. Sarah Lacy, "Life after Shark Tank – The real story of how UniKey finally came to market", Pando Daily, May 8, 2013.
  3. Tim Freed, "Phil Dumas, president and founder, UniKey Technologies Inc.", Orlando Business Journal, June 15, 2012.
  4. "ABC Home Page - ABC.com". abc.go.com. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
  5. Alyson Shontell, "At Last: A Secure, Key-Free Way To Unlock Your Front Door Has Been Invented", Business Insider, May 13, 2013.
  6. Stewart Wolpin, "Kwikset's Kevo Powered by Unikey Lock Review", Mashable, November 29, 2013.
  7. Lindsey Adler, "UniKey is Making Our Keyless Future Happen", AV Network, May 6, 2014.
  8. Neil Hughes, "UniKey-powered Kevo aims to make Apple's iPhone the ultimate secure wireless house key", AppleInsider, May 8, 2013.
  9. J. Luis, "Kwikset Kevo Review", Gambit Magazine, May 19, 2014.
  10. Mikey Campbell, "Review: Kwikset's new iPhone-compatible 'Kevo' keyless deadbolt lock", AppleInsider, October 30, 2013.
  11. "Ny New York Locksmith". Wednesday, 23 October 2019
  12. Nancy Trejos, "Going keyless is the key: The hotel room key goes mobile", USA Today, June 29, 2014.
  13. "HITEC 2014: UniKey and MIWA Team to Offer Keyless Entry Solution", Hospitality Technology, June 27, 2014.
  14. Rich Brown, "UniKey Bluetooth door lock emerges as Kevo", CNET, May 16, 2013.
  15. "UniKey Raises $10 Million in Series A Funding - Orlando Tech Association". Orlando Tech Association. 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  16. Security, ERA Home. "ERA in Partnership with UniKey Brings Cutting-Edge Smart Lock Technology to Households in the UK". ERA Home Security. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  17. "Haven Lock Partners with UniKey to Release Haven Connect Smart Lock". PRWeb. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  18. "Grosvenor Partners with UniKey to Bring Disruptive Innovation to Physical Access Control Industry". StreetInsider.com. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  19. Nortek Security & Control. "Nortek Security & Control Expands Portfolio of Access Control Solutions". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2018-01-11.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  20. "Orlando-based UniKey Receives $5 Million in Venture Capital - UCF Business Incubator Graduate to Expand Workforce, Enter New Markets, Eliminate Keys - UCF Business Incubation Program - University of Central Florida". UCF Business Incubation Program. 2017-06-29. Retrieved 2018-01-11.
  21. "UniKey Technologies And RemoteLock Partner To Deliver New Secure Bluetooth Enabled Commercial Lock".
  22. "The Hillman Group Launches New KeyHero™ Digital Key Backup".
  23. "Khóa Cửa Vân Tay: Cao Cấp Bảo Hành 5 Năm Công Nghệ Đức". lionlock.vn. Retrieved 2021-01-04.
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