Holiday Inn testing out new feature that enables smartphones to act as a hotel key

Mobile phones are slowly being embedded to a variety of technologies that aid us in our daily lives – such as being able to use it like a credit card for purchases. This time around, it looks like we can expect to see someday for our smartphones to act as our hotel keys to allow us access to our rooms while we're away for a trip. Two Holiday Inns are in the process of testing out a new system that allows hotel guests to use their smartphones to unlock their hotel-room door. Although there are systems out there currently using cards with RFID technology to accomplish the same tasks, the system being used for the two Holiday Inn locations will essentially replace the card with a smartphone – they view it as a simple solution seeing that there are more people carrying along smartphones with them as they travel. The two test locations will be running the new smartphone simulation for about 90 days before getting back feedback on its progress. If it proves to be a success, they plan on rolling it out to other locations where approximately 20 percent of the hotel rooms would be equipped with the new feature. We'd bet that you're more likely to misplace those hotel rooms keys/cards first before your precious smartphone.

source: USA Today via Textually