The Connectivity Standards Alliance has released the Aliro 1.0 specification, a new communication protocol and digital credential standard backed by Apple, Google, and Samsung that aims to do for physical access control what Matter did for the broader smart home industry.
Aliro addresses a problem that has persisted in the access control category for decades, where proprietary card systems, closed software ecosystems, and hardware lock-in have forced businesses, landlords, and homeowners to commit entirely to a single vendor rather than mixing compatible products from different manufacturers.
The standard works by storing digital access credentials directly in the native mobile wallet on a user’s phone or wearable, removing the need for a separate app or cloud dependency and allowing the same credential to function across locks from different manufacturers in different locations.
Three wireless technologies underpin the specification to cover different installation scenarios, with NFC handling tap-to-unlock interactions, Bluetooth Low Energy supporting user-initiated longer-range communication, and Ultra-Wideband enabling fully hands-free authentication as a user approaches a door with a phone in their pocket.
The UWB hands-free mode mirrors the experience Apple has offered through Home Key on compatible locks since 2021, but Aliro extends that capability across Android and Samsung devices simultaneously rather than restricting it to a single mobile platform and a handful of certified lock manufacturers.
Credentials stored within the Aliro framework also support granular access scheduling built directly into the digital key itself, allowing a credential issued to a visitor or contractor to carry time restrictions and specific permissions without requiring an internet connection or a third-party management app to enforce them.
Industry backing and certification
More than 220 companies contributed to the development of Aliro 1.0, with Apple, ASSA ABLOY, Google, Samsung, Infineon Technologies, and STMicroelectronics among those who pooled expertise to build the specification, and Allegion, Aqara, HID, Kwikset, Nuki, NXP Semiconductors, and Qorvo among the first expected to achieve Aliro 1.0 certification.
The specification also functions in areas without network coverage, including underground car parks and elevators, a practical requirement for commercial deployments where cellular and Wi-Fi signals are frequently absent but access control remains essential.
Aliro operates alongside Matter rather than replacing it, with Matter handling smart home device communication and automation while Aliro handles the point-to-point authentication exchange between a phone and a lock reader directly, meaning a fully capable smart lock will eventually carry certification for both standards.
The Alliance confirmed that Aliro 1.0 represents a living standard, with future phases planned to add features including secure credential sharing while maintaining backward compatibility with hardware certified under the initial release.
