Hacker News Reader

why cant they just send an old fashioned text message with a pin code... then use that pin code to open the door.

messing around with bluetooth sounds complicated

It looks like it uses Bluetooth LE, which is significantly less complicated than pairing with "classic" bluetooth. Once you have downloaded the app, it should just unlock the door based on proximity.

Entering a PIN code would be much less convenient.

A pin code is observable by someone else.

So send a new one on every unlock? Have a button on the door that sends a code to the phone, invalid after timeout or after first use. Invalid codes can generate a new code so if someone tries to access your room you get notified as well.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com