Slashdot Mirror
Apple's "iKey" Wants To Unlock All Doors
Pickens writes "The Telegraph reports that Apple is developing technology, already being nicknamed the 'iKey,' which will allow users to gain access to their office and unlock their car or front door with a single electronic device like an iPhone. Users would simply have to enter a PIN and wave the device over an electronic pad fitted beside a door to open it. 'The device can communicate with an external device to open a lock. By way of example, the electronic device may be a model of an iPhone,' says the newly released patent application. 'The external device may be any suitable electronic device such as a portable media player, personal data assistant or electronic lock that may be used to access a door, car, house, or other physical area.' The technology behind the invention is known as Near Field Communication; it allows electronic devices to transmit information when in proximity. 'If true, it's a very big deal. As well as opening doors and unlocking your car, it could also turn your iPhone into an electronic wallet and ID card,' says Leander Kahney, a consumer technology expert. 'The trouble is that the technology hasn't gone completely mainstream. If Apple were to adopt the technology, they would likely set the standard, and that would drive widespread adoption as everyone scrambles to make their systems iPhone-friendly.'"
I certainly wouldn't put my keys on an iPhone, a device that is controlled by Apple, not the owner, but conceptually a physical lock based on public key cryptography is very attractive. There are some unfortunate drawbacks, of course: Every lock needs power. Think about the locks you frequently use: How many don't have easy access to a reliable power supply? And then, do you fail open (cut the power and you're in) or fail close (locked in/out in an emergency which takes out the electricity)? This system also needs to be designed quite carefully to avoid tracking, especially if it is meant to work as an electronic wallet and ID card as well. If you can't separate the functions, then everywhere you pay, you leave a full set of identifying data. At the very least, use random identifiers in the discovery phase and encrypt all communication. Give the key a way to identify which locks to talk to and which locks to ignore.