Wear OS

Google Wallet for Wear OS gets ability to unlock Schlage doors on campus and at offices

Andrew Romero | Dec 16 2024 - 8:37 am PT

Google Wallet on Wear OS devices like the Pixel Watch series will soon allow users to interact with Schlage locks, which means ID cards and keys can be left at home.

Google Wallet has added a lot of convienences for users over the years. Specifically, when it comes to Wear OS devices like the Pixel Watch series or Galaxy Watch lineup, being able to tap to pay with your smartwatch has been a huge addition that has existed for some time now. Still, innovation in that area has felt a little stagnant.

A new report from Allegion notes that Wear OS will soon see the ability to interact with Schlage products wirelessly from smartwatches running Google’s OS, much like in a tap-to-pay scenario. Schlage locks make up a large portion of office and campus doorways, requiring the use of a key fob or ID card to enter. With Google Wallet compatibility, Wear OS watches will soon be able to unlock these doors with a simple tap. This comes as an extension to the capability in Google Wallet for Android phones.

That extends to mobile payments on campus, as well. In the case of mobile readers, ID card credentials can be tapped so the system can easily identify the wearer.

This comes as Google Wallet recently announced that it would begin adding compatibility for corporate badges, campus IDs, and even hotel keys. This expands Google Wallet’s use case exponentially and brings even more value to wearables with Google’s OS.

The mobile credentials in Google Wallet will act as a digital key, much in the same way vehicles are unlockable via Google Wallet on Android. Allegion notes that those mobile credentials are “safeguarded by multiple layers of security.” If the device holding those credentials is lost or stolen, access can be rescinded from that device.

Schlage says that this capability is already available, though it would presumably take some time to incorporate from case to case.