Hands-Free Entry to Common Areas with HOMETACT and OMNICITY

Optex Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture; President & CEO: Toru Kamimura; hereinafter “Optex”) has entered into a business alliance with Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President & CEO: Atsushi Nakajima; hereinafter “Mitsubishi Estate”) in the field of smart homes, including collaboration between the companies’ services.

The first collaboration brings together the HOMETACT comprehensive smart home service from Mitsubishi Estate and OMNICITY automatic door sensor solutions from Optex, Japan’s largest automatic door sensor manufacturer. The combination of these two services provides hands-free access to common areas at apartment complexes using the HOMETACT app along with OMNICITY-compatible sensors via the new HOMETACT Smart Gate function, improving the convenience and usability of services for residents. HOMETACT will be the first linked smart home service to use the OMNICITY key SDK*1 to allow for communication functionality with OMNICITY-compatible sensors for external applications.

• 1 SDK = Software development kit

1. Hands-free entry via the HOMETACT app, allowing smartphones to be used as passive door keys
   Entry to common areas will be possible even when the resident’s smartphone is in a pocket or bag through authentication and communication with the automatic door sensor. Smartphones with the HOMETACT app installed can be used for entry to common areas even if both hands are occupied.
2. Increased operational efficiency through account-based authorization management
   Incorporating the OMNICITY SDK into the HOMETACT app makes it possible to manage usage rights from the HOMETACT management screen, improving operational efficiency by linking move-in and exit procedures.
3. A range of use cases in existing apartment complexes simply by replacing the automatic door sensors
   While most smart entrance systems require additional specialized equipment and connection work with automatic doors and existing local unlock systems, OMNICITY can be used by simply replacing the automatic door sensors, enabling extensive applications at low cost in both new and existing apartment complexes.

In addition, Mitsubishi Estate and Optex will be working together on joint promotions, introduction proposals, and service updates geared toward faster provision of added value to users through additional service collaborations.

Incorporating the OMNICITY key SDK, announced in April 2024 by Optex, into HOMETACT enables a new hands-free entry function, HOMETACT Smart Gate. This allows residents of apartment complexes with OMNICITY-compatible sensors to pass through common entrances and other areas just by carrying a smartphone with the HOMETACT app installed.

This new functionality eliminates the need to take out a physical key or open an app to unlock common entrances, leaving both hands free. The HOMETACT Smart Gate function can be managed through HOMETACT's TACTBASE management portal function, improving efficiency by making it easier to manage privileges for linked accounts when new users move in or out of a residence.

The new linked service can also be introduced easily and at low cost simply by replacing the automatic door sensors (*2), eliminating the need for complicated installation work such as connecting to on-site entry systems. This makes it possible to propose adoption to a wide range of users in existing apartment complexes currently using the HOMETACT system or in new or existing apartment complexes considering adopting HOMETACT. By making it easier to offer this functionality, Optex hopes to further improve convenience for residents and also help increase property values.

• 2 Additional specialized sensors may be required for some automatic door specifications.

OMNICITY adds Beacon functionality to automatic door sensors—previously used only for opening and closing automatic doors—to enable communication between automatic door sensors and smartphones with a supported app installed. This service makes it possible to provide a wide variety of services in addition to automatic unlocking of doors, etc., including coupon distribution and foot traffic flow analysis.
＞OMNICITY website(Japanese)

[Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.]
Representative: Atsushi Nakajima, Representative Director, President & CEO
Headquarters: Otemachi Park Bldg., 1-1-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
• Description of business
: Development and leasing of office buildings, retail facilities, hotels, logistics facilities, etc.; development and sale of real estate for investment purposes in Japan and overseas; development and sale of land for housing, industrial use, etc.; management of airports, leisure facilities, etc.; real estate brokerage and related consulting services; asset management
• Website:https://www.mec.co.jp/

[Optex Co., Ltd.]
• Representative: Toru Kamimura, President & CEO
• Headquarters: 5-8-12 Ogoto, Otsu-shi, Shiga
• Description of business: Planning, development, and sales of various sensors, etc.
• Website:https://www.optex.co.jp/