Taking a different approach to residential door security, the Netatmo Smart Door Lock brings Netatmo Security app and Apple HomeKit support as well as near-field communication (NFC) smart key access. To launch later in 2020 from the French company, the initial version of the product is designed to work with conventional European-spec cylinder lock doors—in much the same way as the competing ENTR Smart Door Lock from ASSA ABLOY and Yale. Netatmo announced the new smart lock at CES 2020 in Las Vegas.
Eliminating the Locksmith and the Internet
The lock kit ships with three identical, toothless NFC smart keys. These keys can be instantly provisioned by the homeowner through the Netatmo Security app, and can also be instantly deactivated in the event of loss or theft. Additional smart keys can be purchased, and multiple locks in the home or even other locations can be configured to use the same smart key if desired. Netatmo says the smart keys are tamper-proof and impossible to duplicate.
“The Netatmo Smart Door Lock and Keys enhance home security, and offer our customers unrivaled freedom,” said Fred Potter, founder of Netatmo and CTO of the Eliot program at French parent company Legrand. “They can open and close their doors using smartphones, and they no longer have to wait hours for a locksmith if they leave their keys at the office or inside the house.”
The Netatmo Smart Lock does not connect directly to the Internet, and instead uses only Bluetooth and NFC in the vicinity of the door for access. This may be a downside for some, as that precludes remotely opening the lock through the app. And furthermore, in contrast with the ENTR lock, there is no motorized operation so either the key or interior door knob must be turned to lock or unlock.
Versatile App Access with Digital Keys
In the case of app access with the Netatmo Security app, purely digital keys can be provisioned and shared with family, guests, or temporary visitors through the companion Netatmo Guest app. The authorizations and identification data are stored in the smart lock, not in a cloud-based system.
These digital keys can be instantly deactivated from the Netatmo Security app by the homeowner. And with A2P, BZ+, and SKG security certifications, Netatmo is touting the overall safety of their new smart lock.
Apple HomeKit Access
Native support for Apple HomeKit should bring Apple Home app control and the capability to integrate the Netatmo Smart Lock into HomeKit scenes for activating other accessories—such as smart lighting or window shades— as residents come and go.
Battery Power, Micro-USB Cable Backup
Netatmo says the onboard AAA batteries should last for two years. In the event the batteries go dead, a micro-USB cable and standard USB power source can be used to temporarily electrify the lock.
No U.S. Version Initially
Due to the radical differences between European doors and standard U.S. deadbolt lock doors, these new locks will have to be mostly redesigned to work on the other side of the pond. But Netatmo already has a full line of other connected home products they sell in the U.S., including weather stations, smart doorbells, security cameras, and security systems. So we may well see these locks arrive stateside in the future to work alongside those products.
