Lockitron is a device which can lock and unlock doors via remote control, typically via a smartphone. Lockitron is made by Apigy, a start-up based in Mountain View, California. Apigy was a graduate of the Y Combinator start-up accelerator. Multiple models of Lockitron have been manufactured, including one that fits over the lock control mechanism on the inside of a door, and the door can then be unlocked via an app on the phone, or via web page control. Phones with Bluetooth Low Energy can also automatically unlock a door when an authenticated device is nearby. A supplied NFC tag can be read to trigger a command to toggle the state of the lock. Virtual "keys" can also be created for guests or repair contractors etc., which allows access to the home. The virtual keys can be distributed over the interneton demand, and can also be revoked on demand. The door can also be locked or unlocked via an SMS "key" for those without smartphones. All models of Lockitron allow for a traditional lock which continues to work with traditional metal keys. When a metal key is used, some models of Lockitron can send a notification to a smartphone. Lockitron exposes an open, web-accessible API. Lockitron supports integration with the Ring Video Doorbell, a doorbell system that sends video and voice from the door to a smartphone. Other devices that have integrated with the Lockitron API include the Pebble Smartwatch, which allows you to directly lock and unlock a Lockitron from your wrist, and IFTTT, which connects Lockitron to platforms and devices like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Nest. For a period of time Apigy developed Lockitron in an office that previously housed the Byte Shop where the first Apple I computers were sold. Apigy hosted an open house at the location where several working Apple II computers were set up for attendees to play classic games like TRON and Pacman. The Chamberlain Group announced in early 2019 that they had acquired Lockitron in order to integrate door locks into their myQ platform.
Crowdfunded Lockitron
Apigy originally offered a full replacement door lock version of Lockitron in 2011 before announcing a version of Lockitron in 2012 which fit over preexisting deadbolt locks. The 2012 version of Lockitron incorporated a number of improvements over the 2011 Lockitron deadbolt including built-in WiFi, replacing a wired basestation, built-in auto-unlock technology through Bluetooth Low Energy, and a simplified installation by making Lockitron a device that fits over a preexisting deadbolt lock. The crowdfunded Lockitron was built around an ATMega microprocessor meaning that it is Arduino compatible for other custom behavior. The crowdfunded Lockitron was rejected from Kickstarter, after the crowdfunding changed their policies regarding hardware funding. The creators claim the rejection was due to Lockitron's status as a "home improvement" product, but this has not been confirmed by Kickstarter. After their rejection, the founders of Apigy, Cameron Robertson and Paul Gerhardt, built their own crowdfunding website in a matter of days and used it to garner over 1.5 million USD in preorders during the first week of their campaign in October 2012. Apigy subsequently open-sourced their crowdfunding software as Selfstarter, an alternative crowdfunding site. Selfstarter was used in the successful Tile crowdfunding campaign and later formed the basis of Crowdhoster and CrowdTilt Open. The crowdfunded Lockitron was significantly delayed from its originally anticipated ship date of July 2013, shipping in small numbers through the end of 2013. By February 2014, the crowdfunded Lockitron had still not yet shipped in substantial numbers prompting coverage by the blog TechCrunch. By the end of 2014 thousands of units had been shipped. In early 2015, Apigy announced its new product, Lockitron Bolt, as a replacement for the crowdfunded Lockitron and that it had ceased production of the crowdfunded Lockitron due to manufacturing and product issues.
Lockitron Bolt
Lockitron Bolt is priced at 99 USD and offers Bluetooth only connectivity in comparison to its predecessor which was priced at 179 USD and offered built-in WiFi; an optional 79 USD device called Bridge connects Lockitron Bolt to WiFi networks giving it the same remote capabilities as the 2012 Lockitron. In late 2015 Apigy announced that the first Lockitron Bolt devices would ship 24 November 2015 while also announcing an add-on to Lockitron Bolt, Keypad. A series of updates in late 2016 indicated that remaining Lockitron Bolt units owed to backers were produced and all remaining orders for U.S. customers had shipped to customers.
