Hyundai Elevator Co., South Korea's No. 1 moving solutions provider, said Thursday it has developed a wireless control system that permits ordinary people to summon lifts using their smartphones.

The Hyundai Real Time Service (HRTS) 2.0 system aims to enhance the convenience of people living and working in high-rise buildings, who have to wait for some time to get a ride. The system, which can easily be used by downloading a dedicated app, can also reduce construction costs and allow real-time monitoring of elevators, the company said. 

There are currently some 10,000 elevators that can be used with the remote control system, with Hyundai Elevator to provide the app free of charge to all those that need it.

Many modern apartments and office buildings have expensive summoning systems installed that link each residence and floor with the elevator operating program, so people can reduce the time they have to wait. If an elevator has HRTS, there is no need to install such systems. 

Hyundai Elevator said another advantage of its latest service system is that elevator operators can keep track of all lifts all-year round, and to some extent, conduct safety inspection and make minor repairs remotely.

"Roughly 66 percent of repairs can be handled with the HRTS,"

the company claimed. This translates into savings and greater convenience both for users and operators.

Hyundai Elevator added that it is working to further improve the system so it can be used with closed circuit TVs. (Yonhap)