First introduced at CES, the Kevo Plus is a new product that accompanies the Kevo, a popular Bluetooth-enabled smart lock. The Kevo Plus adds online connectivity to the Kevo, allowing for remote access for the first time.
With the new Kevo Plus, it's now possible for Kevo users to lock and unlock their doors from anywhere in the world, in addition to unlocking them when close by with Bluetooth. Kevo Plus connectivity is enabled through a Bluetooth-enabled gateway that plugs into the router with an Ethernet connection to form a secure interaction between the Kevo and the Kevo Plus Gateway.
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To get remote access, existing Kevo users will need to upgrade their accounts to Kevo Plus, paying a one time upgrade fee of $69.99 on the Kevo website. After paying the fee, they'll receive the Kevo Plus gateway, which will be able to receive remote commands when a user is away from home and communicate those to the Kevo via Bluetooth. A single Kevo Plus Gateway is able to connect with and interact with multiple Kevo locks.
To support the new remote access functionality, the accompanying Kevo app has been updated. In addition to support for the Kevo Plus gateway, the update adds InHome Locking and Unlocking, letting users lock and unlock the Kevo with an iPhone if they're within Bluetooth range. This new feature does not require Kevo Plus.
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The Kevo Smart Lock is available from several retailers such as Amazon.com and Apple.com for $190 to $220. The Kevo Plus add-on can be purchased from the Kevo website for $70. The Kevo app is available from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Top Rated Comments
One gateway here, one there...a different one for lights, appliances, sensors...
A different type of app for each product. The joy!
:facepalm:
That's way too expensive for a wifi bridge. It doesn't even support HomeKit.
I have a Kevo on my front door, and while I LOVE having a smart lock, Kevo does a crappy job at it.
You can only have two phones connected to the lock, if you want to have extra devices connected, you have to purchase extra ekeys. Guest keys are free but they're only good for 24 hrs.
It's also very slow to respond. Most of the time it takes two tries before it recognizes your phone, and your phone has to be very close to the lock. If you've got a thick case on the phone and it's in your pants with your pocket not facing directly towards the lock, it will most likely not work.
Also, I don't understand why they didn't implement a sensor so that the lock knows when the door is shut. As it is now, if you're carrying bags and graze it or if you have guests that don't know that the lock is touch activated, the Kevo will lock itself even though the door is wide open. Then the bolt will hit the door frame on the way back.
I guess it's a good v1 implementation, but I'm open to other devices that will tie in with HomeKit and other smart devices. I'd like to have my Philips Hue lights turn on in the hallway when I unlock the door for example. I know this can be achieved using IFTTT and/or GPS, but i'd like for it to be tied to the smart lock, because it's not just me that will be opening the door. It might also be guests.
Before the newest software update, I also had trouble unlocking the door with my iPhone. I would often have to pull it out of my pocket and hold it next to the lock to get it to work. Now it seems to work with the phone a good 3-5 feet away from the lock.
I hope you update and have as good of luck!
P.S. I agree about $70 being too expensive for the bridge. I don't think it is really necessary. Instead of remotely locking/unlocking the door for a friend or relative, we can just send a free 24 hour key. I guess the only real benefit would be that you could check and lock it if you weren't sure if you locked the door after leaving for a trip.
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