Product review of iKey App To Replace Keys And Wallet

1. iKey App to Replace Keys and Wallet
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David Novak (The GadgetGUY) is a syndicated columnist who reviews and features the latest in
consumer technology. For cutting-edge information on what’s hot and what’s new in gadgets and
gizmos , The GadgetGUY has his pulse on everything related to computers, camcorders, car tech,
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What started out as a communication device has quickly evolved to become a take anywhere
entertainment apparatus and essential tool for work and play- the iPhone. So much so that many people
feel panic-stricken if they accidentally leave their phone at home. Such separation anxiety could be
even worse in the future with a patent filed by Apple suggesting that the company wants the iPhone to
replace your house and car keys and wallet, thereby making it even more indispensable.
Nicknamed “iKey” the technology would see users entering a PIN code on the device (such as an
iPhone) using an onscreen rotating combination lock and waving it over an electronic pad located
beside a door to open it. The system relies on a new technology called Near Field Communication
(NFC) - a short-range high frequency wireless communication technology primarily aimed at usage in
mobile phones which enables the exchange of data between devices over about a 10 centimeter (around
4 inches) distance.

2. The NFC technology is a simple extension of the ISO/IEC 14443 proximity-card standard found in
contactless card and RFID devices that combines the interface of a smartcard and a reader into a single
device. An NFC device can communicate with both existing ISO/IEC 14443 smartcards and readers, as
well as with other NFC devices, and is therefore compatible with existing contactless infrastructure
already in use for many public transportation and payment systems. This means that an iKey device
could also be used as a digital wallet.
Apple lists the iPhone as an example of a device that could use iKey technology, but the patent also
says, “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 iKey technology could also be used to lock/unlock a computer and transfer data between
devices.

3. Many car manufacturers, including Mercedes, Lexus and Toyota, are already starting to install keyless
entry systems for their vehicles through key fobs, and many public transportation systems around the
world use or are implementing contactless card access entry systems. So presumably using an iKey
device for such systems wouldn’t be that difficult to implement. Homes and offices, however, would
need to have their existing locks replaced with electronic, computer-controlled locks.
The “iKey” patent is the second one to refer to NFC. The previous one filed in November 2009 detailed
a simplified data transfer application called “Grab & Go” that was intended to allow the transfer of data
between different kinds of devices just by tapping them together. It has been suggested that in such
cases NFC could be used to pair the devices before initiating communication through a higher data rate
channel such as 802.11x, 3G, HSDPA or Bluetooth.
There is speculation that the upcoming 4G iPhone will contain iKey capabilities, and the Apple patent
says any information that passes between the devices would be encrypted.
(www.apple.com)

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