Guests at two Holiday Inn hotels over in the US will be able to use smartphones to unlock their rooms as part of a trial.
The facilities will be using Open Ways technology which will work with most smartphones including the iPhone, Blackberry and Android devices, USA Today has reported.
Bryson Koehler, an executive at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), which runs the Holiday Inn chain, told the paper that his company is trying to make the check-in process simpler.
Before the launch of the trials, IHG will finish creating a website where guests will be able to register after downloading an Open Ways app. When they hold up the confirmation email to a sensor on their door, it will then unlock ideal for those averse to form filling and small talk with hotel staff.
"The proliferation of smartphones is growing in such a way that we have to look at what people are already bringing with them to make their stay more enjoyable. We don't need to burden people with additional items; it just clutters up their lives. The beauty of the smart phone is that they've already got it," Koehler said.
The tests till run for a minimum of 60 days and the tech may become a permanent feature if feedback from guests suggests all is well.
At the time of publication, IHG had not responded to IT PRO's request for more information and whether or not the technology would be implemented in UK hotels.
-
What is polymorphic malware?Explainer Polymorphic malware constantly changes its code to avoid detection, making it a top cybersecurity threat that demands advanced, behavior-based defenses
-
Outgoing Kaseya CEO teases "this is just the beginning" for the companyOpinion We spoke to Fred Voccola who remains a key figurehead at the firm as it enters its next chapter...
-
Blackberry revenue falls by 4% as cyber security division takes hitNews Despite this, the company’s Internet of Things (IoT) division increased its revenue by 28% as it attracted new customers from the automotive sector
-
BlackBerry revival is officially dead as OnwardMobility shuts downNews The Texas-based startup is mysteriously shutting down and taking its ultra-secure 5G BlackBerry with it
-
BlackBerry and AWS are developing a standardized vehicle data platformNews Platform will give automakers a standardized way to process data from vehicle sensors in the cloud
-
BlackBerry thwarts mobile phishing attacks with new AI toolsNews The company's Protect Mobile platform alerts users to potential malware before a link is clicked
-
BlackBerry Persona Desktop delivers zero-trust security at the endpointNews New security solution learns user behavior and can take action if there’s an abnormality
-
A 5G BlackBerry phone with physical keyboard is coming in 2021News The business phone to be resurrected with OnwardMobility and FIH Mobile planning a security-savvy enterprise handset
-
The business smartphone is deadIn-depth BlackBerry’s demise signals the end of the business-first handset
-
BlackBerry Key2 review: The best physical keyboard no one asked forReviews Despite the improvements, the flaws of BlackBerry’s Key range are still front and centre
