Remote control house entry systems - Brief Article

Discount Store News, April 3, 2000

Consumers love living by the push of a button, whether it's to change television channels, open the garage door or unlock a car. So why should a home's front door be any different?

Since the first self-installed keyless entry system for homes became available three years ago, two competitors have surfaced. Kwikset debuted its Titan AccessOne system at last year's Hardware Show and has since added a keypad and lighting module. In January, Stanley launched its own remote control system called WelcomeWatch.

Weiser Lock's Powerbolt 3000, which retails for about $129, was the first consumer product on the market to lock or unlock a front door and turn interior lights on or off with a remote. Kwikset's similar product sells for $99, plus $25 more for the lighting module.

Stanley's $349 system, which requires the purchase of a Stanley door equipped with locking components, recently shipped to home centers. Rather than activating lights inside a home, WelcomeWatch turns on outdoor security lights included in the package.

Builders have worked with Stanley to offer the system as an upgrade on new homes. One partner, Quail Homes, reported that 75% of its home buyers have opted for the remote control entry system.

Because the consumer products available require installation of either a door or lock and cost a premium compared with an estimated $20 deadbolt replacement, sales haven't gone through the roof. However, representatives of all three companies indicated they expect keyless home entry to become as commonplace in the future as television and vehicle remotes.