It's starting to feel like smart homes are actually giving us more remotes and other devices than we had before everything was connected to the internet. A new device from Keyport called OmniFob aims to rectify that problem by being the one tiny keyfob that can control just about anything you could ever want or need it to.

Why OmniFob Is Worth a Look

The quickest way to describe what OmniFob does is to say it's like a universal remote for your keychain. It can perform actions such as opening a garage door, integrate with a smart home system, or even send an SOS message if you find yourself in an unfortunate situation where getting to your phone is impossible. If there's something you can control with your phone, OmniFob will probably be able to control it.

Rather than run a different smartphone app or carry around a different remote, OmniFob is designed to pair up and just work. This is going to sound like a big-time first world problem, but with this fob, you won't need to dig your phone out of your pocket and launch a dedicated app when you just want to do something simple like unlock your car or turn on your lights. Instead, you can just hit a button and make it happen.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/keyport/omnifob-smart-remote-fob/description

Essentially, the small fob features two buttons and motion sensing that make it work. Different button combinations and shakes will perform different actions, which are customizable depending on the needs of the user.

OmniFob is designed to work with all kinds of smart home systems like Samsung SmartThings and Yonomi. For cars, it's designed to work with connected systems such as MoboKey and Blue Eclipse. It supports Sire, Google Assistant, and Alexa, which opens it up to a wide range of possible functions.

The device can also work like a Tile tracker to find your phone. And going the other way, you can use your phone to find your OmniFob (and by extension, your keys). It can be used as a remote shutter for a phone camera, and as a mini flashlight, so even without the connected services, the device is pretty cool.

OmniFob Price and Availablity

Keyport, Inc. is seeking funding for its OmniFob on Kickstarter, and its already more than doubled its initial goal. If you're interested in ordering a device, which the creators plan to ship in February 2020, you can do so for $91. By ordering it early, you save a little bit of money and the creators claim you won't have to pay an annual fee to connect it with your devices and services, while buyers who purchase at retail may have to pay a subscription.

Obviously, there are risks involved with backing a Kickstarter project, and you should definitely be aware of these before you drop your hard-earned cash on one.