August Smart Lock Wants to be the Nest of Door Locks

The new August Smart Lock could be just the thing to lead the charge for home automation by making it even easier for users to control the doorways of their houses from their mobile device.

The locks, which don’t yet have a release date will eventually allow users to control their doors using the Bluetooth technology found in nearly all modern smartphones. Instead of unlocking the door with an application like most contemporary solutions, the August Smart Lock uses that Bluetooth technology to automatically unlock the door when the user gets close enough.

The service that powers the August Smart Lock will enable users to grant visitors temporary access to their home as well. According to the company’s website, the device is totally encrypted so that no one with malicious intent should be able to gain access. Just in case, the company will also provide users with a log of who entered their house that will be available from anywhere via a web browser.

August Smart Lock will come with an internal battery that will still allow users to enter their home even when the power is out.  The lock’s service will alert users, with chimes, LED status lights and messages using the service.

In fact, the service is what pulls most of the August Lock together. In addition to sending invites, users will be able to create invite lists for parties and such, so that people who users trust can automatically get in.

August, says that its August Smart Lock will be able to be installed in as little as 10 minutes. It’ll also need no wiring, instead it will rely on standard batteries –which will make that low battery notification all the more useful.

August is now taking reserve requests on it’s website for the Augusts Smart Lock, it plans to make the device available to users sometime later this year for $199.

As compared to the Kwikset Kevo automated lock system, the August Smart Lock is impressive, even though it seems the company won’t offer any sort of small remote for users who don’t have smartphones. Kevo also has an internal lock traditional key lock as well, so it’ll provide users with the best of both worlds.

Read: Google Makes Android the Center of Your Home Experience

Home automation products seem to be another growing trend in consumer electronics. While Google’s Android @ Home initiatives never quite got off the ground, possibly due to the company’s lack of attention in recent years, devices that collect information and use it to make home life easier have been hot topic. This includes the very popular Nest Learning Thermostat, which was designed by Tony Fadell who previously worked on Apple’s iPad.