Note that Latch offers a physical key, which I got when I asked for it in exchange for a $50 deposit, but as my landlord noted, “please use the app occasionally

Note that Latch offers a physical key, which I got when I asked for it in exchange for a $50 deposit, but as my landlord noted, “please use the app occasionally instead of the keycard, so that we can receive low battery reports”. Which means, as far as I can determine anyways, that Latch uses the app method so that building owners don’t have to deploy wireless AP infrastructure, and can instead externalize all status reporting about a lock to your phone’s cellular/wifi plan. (It also offers backup PINs, but their keypads are really awful.)