Dec. 20, 2017—DENSO, an automotive technology, systems and components supplier, has announced that it has acquired InfiniteKey, Inc.

The acquisition provides foundational pieces for developing phone-as-a-key technology—which DENSO feels will be increasingly important for automakers as ridesharing and driverless services progress beyond the need for keys.

“Eliminating the need for physical keys will create a headache-free experience for car owners, and ridesharing and driverless services users," said Bill Foy, senior vice president of Engineering, DENSO International America.

InfiniteKey has developed techniques for microlocating smartphones to vehicles by using standard Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), technology that allows automakers to rely on phones as passive keys.

Utilizing phones as passive key systems enables a broad range of mobility services, such as ridesharing and driverless services.

For more information about DENSO, which had $9.6 billion in North American consolidated sales in the most recent fiscal year, click here. 

To learn more about Holland, Mich.-based InfiniteKey, check out its website, here.