Qrio

Qrio, Inc. operates in the Internet of Things (IoT) sector, focusing on smart home appliances. The company was established in December 2014 as a joint venture between the Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm WiL, LLC, and Sony Corporation. This partnership combined the internet business expertise and agility of a venture-backed company with the extensive manufacturing and design knowledge of Sony. In September 2017, Qrio became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony. A significant development occurred on April 1, 2024, when Qrio's businesses related to smart locks, smart tags, and its home-arrival notification service were transferred to Sony Network Communications Inc.

The company's business model revolves around the development, manufacturing, and sale of IoT products and the provision of related operational services. Its primary market consists of consumers seeking to integrate smart technology into their homes, as well as real estate businesses looking for smart lock management systems. The revenue is generated through the direct sale of its hardware products. The core product line includes the Qrio Lock, a smart lock device that allows users to operate their door locks using a smartphone. A key feature of the Qrio Lock is its design, which allows for easy installation on existing door locks without requiring replacement. The device offers functionalities such as an auto-lock feature, the ability to share temporary digital keys via messaging apps like LINE and Facebook, and a log of lock/unlock history. The system's responsiveness was significantly improved in later models to provide near-instantaneous operation from the app.

To enhance its ecosystem, Qrio developed several complementary products. The Qrio Hub enables remote operation of the lock and push notifications for lock/unlock events from anywhere with an internet connection. The Qrio Key is a remote control for users without smartphones, while the Qrio Pad offers unlocking via a keypad. Another product, the Qrio Smart Tag, is a Bluetooth-enabled accessory designed to help users locate personal items by buzzing the tag from a smartphone app or finding its last known location on a map. The company's products have received recognition for their design, including an iF design award in 2020. Qrio also expanded its services to the real estate sector with 'Kagikan' and 'Roomon,' which are smart lock management systems for businesses.

Keywords: smart lock, IoT, smart home, keyless entry, access control, Sony subsidiary, home automation, Bluetooth lock, remote access, digital key sharing, real estate technology, proptech, smart tag, lost item finder, Japanese technology, asset tracking, mobile access, smart security, home security, IoT devices, connected home