A new wireless standard called Aliro 1.0 could reshape how digital keys work — not just for smart homes, but for offices, hotels and apartment buildings too.
Announced by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), Aliro 1.0 is a unified communication protocol. It is designed to bring consistency to the world of access control.
In simple terms, it aims to make your phone or smartwatch a universal digital key. This digital key works reliably across different brands, buildings and ecosystems.
What makes Aliro stand out is confirmed support from major mobile wallet platforms, including Apple, Google, and Samsung. That means future-compatible locks and readers could integrate directly with the native wallet apps people already use every day. Instead of relying on brand-specific apps or closed systems, users can benefit from this direct integration.
The goal is interoperability. Instead of juggling different digital keys for your home, workplace or gym, Aliro is designed to create a shared framework that manufacturers can build around. The specification uses asymmetric cryptography to secure communication between devices and access readers. It also supports multiple connection methods, including NFC for tap-to-unlock. In addition, there is Bluetooth LE for longer-range access, and Bluetooth LE with Ultra-Wideband (UWB) for hands-free entry.
Importantly, Aliro isn’t limited to front doors. The standard is designed to work in environments without network coverage such as underground parking garages or elevators. This makes it viable for larger commercial deployments.
More than 220 companies are involved in the initiative, including ASSA ABLOY, Allegion, Aqara, HID, and Kwikset. There are also major silicon providers like NXP Semiconductors and STMicroelectronics involved. Several of these brands are expected to be among the first to achieve Aliro 1.0 certification. This will happen as the program moves into commercial rollout.
For manufacturers and integrators, the appeal is reduced complexity. A shared certification program lowers development costs and simplifies compatibility testing across devices from different vendors. For end users, the benefit is simpler – fewer apps, fewer compatibility headaches, and a more seamless way to unlock spaces.
Aliro 1.0 is described as a “living standard,” meaning future updates are already planned, including support for features like secure key sharing while maintaining backward compatibility.
If adoption takes off, Aliro could become the invisible layer behind the next generation of smart locks. It would quietly replace proprietary systems with a universal, wallet-based approach to access.
