Smart locks are getting smarter and more targeted. Otto is announcing that it has created a secure digital lock designed to address the needs of families. With no lock to pick or keypad to attack, Otto removed the primary vulnerabilities of a lock, and that’s why the company claims it has created the most secure residential lock ever made.
Interacting with the phone in your pocket, Otto greets you with its status as you approach and unlocks the moment you press it. The lock has an all-digital design that eliminates the most vulnerable aspects of locks: keyholes and keypads (most locks can be defeated/picked in under 60 seconds, or a simple photo of a key can create a working copy). Otto uses digital encryption.
The digital lock is designed to be no larger than the mechanical deadbolt it replaces. It has access code-based entry and Wi-Fi built in, with no additional hardware required.
You can use it to invite guests with full or time-limited access, instantly grant/revoke ability, and enable the use of entry codes. You can lock or unlock it anytime from anywhere — across the room, the home, or the world — and receive a detailed log of all activity, including delivery people, friends and family, and Airbnb guests.
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Above: Otto is the latest smart lock.
Founder and CEO Sam Jadallah, a former Microsoft executive, was inspired to create Otto by his family’s door manufacturing company. He realized the market lacked a fully digital lock that was incredibly secure but also simple to use. Existing digital lock solutions are bulky, made of cheap aluminum and plastic, and rely heavily on vulnerable keys.
“We wanted to create an experience that allows families to share their space with others while enhancing security,” said Jadallah in a statement. “In an industry desperately needing a replacement to the key and keypad’s lax security, we’ve eliminated the keyhole — along with a physical keypad — to create the most secure digital lock ever made with best in class security, great design, and industry leading performance.”
San Mateo, California-based Otto has funding from Greylock Partners and Fortune Brands.
“Consumers are looking for smart, well-designed devices to make their lives more convenient, comfortable and easier. Few connected home products have truly met these expectations. We are big believers in Otto’s approach to building premium products focused on security, design, and performance,” said Josh Elman, partner at Greylock Partners, in a statement. “We are excited to support Sam and the entire team to build and deliver a category defining product.”
To evaluate strength and durability, Otto’s team developed a robot mimicking temperamental teenagers to slam test the device over 50,000 times at two or three times the force of a normal door slam. A member of Otto’s concierge service will come to your home to set up the device.
The lock is priced for a limited time at $700, with complimentary delivery and install ($150 value). It will ship in the fall of 2017. Otto has 45 employees.
Otto competes with rivals such as Schlage, which recently launched an Android smart home lock. Otto designed its lock to fit within larger Internet of Things ecosystems, such as Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s HomeKit.
