From The Verge: Smart locks may still be a niche product, but lock behemoth Assa Abloy is clearly betting on a digital future for our doors. Despite being sued by the US Department of Justice for trying to buy too many smart lock manufacturers, the Swedish-based company just bought another one: sleek smart lock maker Level Lock.
With this latest purchase, Assa Abloy, which owns a staggering 190 brands in the “access control” space, may now have a significant piece of the puzzle it needs to push the market into a digital future. “Their innovative platform provides an easy transition from mechanical locking to digital access solutions with minimal effort,” said Lucas Boselli, executive vice president of Assa Abloy, in a press release.
Level’s technology dispenses with the large, bulky housing common with connected locks. Instead, it integrates everything needed to digitally control and power the lock into the deadbolt mechanism. From the outside, a Level smart lock looks just like a traditional lock. The company has a retrofit solution for an existing deadbolt and all-in-one smart locks with features like touch-to-unlock and Apple Home Key unlocking.
The obvious move for Assa Abloy is to incorporate Level’s tech — both hardware and software — into its existing stable of locks, including Kwikset and its sister brand, Baldwin, and make smart locks that don’t look like smart locks. This would be an easier transition for the mass market than the current method of sticking a big black box on your door.
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