I am not sure about you, but we have definitely had a time or two where I have locked myself out of the house, or needed someone to go to my house to take care of the dogs, grab something, etc. I used to leave a hide-a-key outside, but I am the first to admit that it seemed like a really bad idea to me. I also still have the same mentality I did in high school when it comes to carrying in bags. I stack about 15 on each arm, and then get to my door and realize I have no clue where my key is and even if I did know where it was, there would be no hope of getting it with my hands and arms being so full.
Then one night my family was watching ABC's Shark Tank. We saw this super futuristic lock that involved no key and I thought...that is awesome. After the show, I did not give the lock much thought. Then a few months ago, my husband brought up that he would like for us to get a new lock, and maybe we should look into one of the touch pad combo locks or something. Ehhhh... I said we would look. And almost like a sign, a week later at Blogger Bash, I got to see and try UniKey's Kevo lock, in person, and fell in love immediately!
youtube.com/watch?v=3Hk7vDAsGW4
Kevo sent me a unit to test in my home and I cannot even express what a life-changer this lock has been. No more fumbling for keys or putting down boxes just to unlock the door. It really is as easy as tapping the lock while nearby with the App or Fob. My son thinks it is the greatest thing ever and brings his friends over just to try our lock. I love that I no longer have a hide-a-key outside. A few days ago when I needed a neighbor to run over to the house, I was able to send her a free eKey which was good for 24 hours. I could also see when she used it to enter the house and leave the house. While I am guilty of locking my keys in the car, I never go anywhere without my phone, so for me, being able to use my phone as a virtual key has been amazing.
Oh, the battery life on the lock seems great! We have locked and unlocked our door probably well over a thousand times in the past month and the batteries are still going strong. Keeping the App on does not seem to have any effect on my iPhone 5's battery because the App uses bluetooth 4 technology instead of the older bluetooth technology which would drain a cell phone battery in about an hour.
I really cannot say enough about the Kevo. I can say unequivocally that this is one of the coolest and most useful products I have ever seen. This will definitely be going on my hottest holiday gift guide and I think will be my go-to gift for several family members!
More about the Kevo from the Unikey website:
So...what is the UniKey Kevo exactly? It is a Touch-to-Open™ lock. UniKey partnered with Kwikset & Weiser to create the world’s first true smart lock – Kevo. No more fumbling with or looking for your keys. All you need to unlock your Kevo lock is your smartphone. You don’t even need to take your smartphone out of your pocket or purse; it’s as simple as walking up, touching your lock, and walking in. Plus, the free Kevo App & web portal let you send, receive and delete eKeys, see a log of lock activity or set up notifications. You only have to launch the app once and you’re done. No need to re-enter pins or passwords for every use. When you have an eKey, a simple touch of the door lock quickly locks or unlocks the door. Each and every time.
So...what do you need to make the Kevo work?
It all starts with the UniKey Kevo mobile app that you can download for free from the Apple App Store. This App allows you to set up your Kevo lock, send, disable or delete eKeys, as well as manage Kevo fobs. Use the Kevo app to make electronic keys for friends, relatives or the babysitter. Kevo uses multiple levels of encryption to help safeguard your home. You can use a traditional key with the lock too.
The Kevo is currently compatible with Apple iPhone 4s and up as well as iPod touch 5+, iPad 3+ and iPad mini+. An Andriod app is in the works and UniKey says it will be available soon. For those that do not have a smartphone -the Kevo Fob (included with the lock) offers the same touch-to-open technology and convenience. Leave your fob in your pocket or purse and when you touch the lock, it will recognize your fob and unlock the door. Additional Kevo Fobs are available for about $25.
The Kevo is currently compatible with Apple iPhone 4s and up as well as iPod touch 5+, iPad 3+ and iPad mini+. An Andriod app is in the works and UniKey says it will be available soon. For those that do not have a smartphone -the Kevo Fob (included with the lock) offers the same touch-to-open technology and convenience. Leave your fob in your pocket or purse and when you touch the lock, it will recognize your fob and unlock the door. Additional Kevo Fobs are available for about $25.
The Kevo retails for $219.99 and is available at Verizon, Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, Home Depot and Lowes in multiple finishes to match your current door hardware. The Kevo is super easy to install, it took us about 6 minutes total.
