The system, titled OpenWays and distributed by IHG Innovation, is being trialed at Holiday Inn’s hotels at Chicago O’Hare and downtown Houston.
Users can either pre-register by e-mail or sign up at the front desk. They’ll then get a text message and e-mail on the day of their scheduled arrival giving them their confirmation details and a phone number to ring. Ringing this number and successfully validating their account will produce an “audible key” that sounds something like the gobbling of a turkey. Holding the earpiece of the phone by the door lock will then trigger the door to unlock.
Because the system uses audio, it works on all phones, whether or not they have internet connections or other smartphone features. It doesn’t need speakerphone switched on, so shouldn’t be likely to wake up nearby guests.
Each time a user unlocks a door, a new tone is generated and becomes active the next time they dial in (within the period they have the room booked). That means it wouldn’t be possible to surreptitiously record somebody unlocking their door and then play back the audio later to gain access to the room.
The logic behind the system is that most tourists and people traveling on business will carry their cellphones all the time anyway, which is easier than remembering to take a keycard with them when they leave the room, and making sure they don’t lose it. Of course, if you’ve forgotten to pack your charger, or your phone battery simply runs flat, it’s a wait at the front desk for you.
