Denso Ventures into Smartphone-Based Vehicle Entry with InfiniteKey Acquisition

Denso has ventured into Smartphone-based vehicle entry by acquiring Infinitekey. InfiniteKey is a company based in Holland that is specializing in the development of a Bluetooth-based solution for micro-location services and phone-as-a-key technology. Through this acquisition, Denso will get access to many key patents and R&D resources.

Denso can now focus on phone-as-a-key technology and enhance its lead in developing and deploying smartphone-based automotive access. Going forward, this will be a key component of the company’s  strategy to create a future with seamless mobility. With ridesharing and driverless car services slated to become more popular in the future, automakers will increasingly focus on this technology and Denso is now getting a head start.

Commenting on the acquisition, Bill Foy, senior vice-president of Engineering, Denso International America said that when it comes to the future, what is most important in design is customer experience. Eliminating the need for physical keys can make the use of vehicles hassle-free for vehicle owners and those who use ridesharing and driverless services. He added that the acquisition takes the company one step closer to making this experience a reality and advancing vehicle access technologies.

InfiniteKey has developed technology that uses standard Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to convert phones into passive keys just like we currently use dedicated passive key fobs. Though key fobs cannot enable mobility services, when phones are used as passive key systems, they enable a broad range of mobility services including ridesharing and driverless services.

Tony Cannestra, director of Corporate Ventures, Denso International America said this acquisition highlights Denso’s aggressive approach when it comes to supporting startups and technologies that the company considers to be significantly valuable for the future of the transportation industry. Denso normally partners with such companies either through direct investment or acquisition.

Kevin Virta, CEO of InfiniteKey, said: “Becoming part of Denso, with its global reach and world-class engineering, means our phone-as-a-key technology can reach the broadest possible penetration in the automotive market. We are looking forward to making significant contributions to Denso’s efforts to lead the way in automotive technologies of the futu