A future with no keys?

I have recently converted to an iphone and now I wouldn't be without mine; so an article in the Sunday Telegraph entitled 'Introducing the iKey: Apple's answer to the humble door key' grabbed my attention.

Apple are developing technology, nicknamed the "iKey", which will mean that rather than carrying around a bunch of keys, people will be able to use a single electronic device to unlock their car, front door and gain access to their office. You would simply have to enter a pin code and wave the device over an electronic pad fitted beside a door to open it. According to the article Apple have already filed the application with the US Patent Office and the application states: "The device can communicate with an external device to open a lock. By way of example, the electronic device may be a model of an iPhone".

Apple hope to replace cards and keyfobs by allowing the iPhone to be used instead to unlock doors to buildings and cars. In a home, householders would need to install electronic, computer controlled locks to their doors. The iPhone would need to be registered with the locks so that they could communicate with each other. By rotating the iPhone near the electronic lock, consumers then select their pin numbers on a dial displayed on the screen, as if entering a combination on a safe. If the combination entered matched the one held by the electronic lock, the door would open. If not, an alarm could be sounded or alerts sent to the householder to indicate someone was attempting to gain unauthorised entry. The patent also proposes encrypting any information that passes between the iPhone and the computer-controlled lock to prevent hackers from "listening in".

I thought that keyless systems for vehicles through key fobs would never catch on and I was wrong there - but no more keys? After reading the article on the iKey, it doesn't seem that it won't be long before conveyancers could be emailing pin codes out to clients on completion days rather than letting them know that their keys are ready for collection.