Security company Yale has partnered with Google-owned domestic technology firm Nest to release a door lock that can be remotely controlled via a smartphone.

The oval-shaped Linus lock has a pared-back digital interface that shows white numbers on a black background – which homeowners can use to input their access code. The door can also be locked or unlocked by touching a phone to the device.

According to Nest – purchased by Google for $3.2 billion in 2014 – the Linus is the first lock that will let users check if the door is open, create pass codes for individuals, and track who has been to visit.

The product offers similar functionality to the August Smart Lock, which was designed by Yves Behar and launched in 2013.

Linus can be remotely controlled via the Nest app, and users can receive notifications on their phone announcing who has unlocked the door, as well as reports detailing past access history. A video released by Nest shows a homeowner being notified when the dog walker has arrived, for instance.

The app can be used to create temporary pass codes, which can be revoked at anytime. For additional peace of mind, Linus will automatically lock itself if the user forgets to do so.

Named after Yale founder Linus Yale, the lock is the first product to use Nest's Weave platform, which was recently opened to developers to allow them to create products that can connect with the app, and other Nest products.

Objects are connected using the Thread protocol, which doesn't need to rely on Wi-Fi for communication, and will continue to work if a single device in the network runs out of power or ceases to function.

"Our founder Linus Yale invented the original cylinder pin-tumbler lock in 1843, and we've been perfecting the door lock ever since," said Jason Williams, general manager at Yale.

"Now, by combining our expertise in door lock security with Nest's knowledge of the connected home, we're able to to create a connected door lock that can do more than any other lock on the market to keep homes secure," he added.

The product is set to be released in early 2016 and, according to Yale, can be installed by simply replacing standard deadbolt hardware.

In an interview with Dezeen, Nest CEO Tony Fadell claimed that every electrical device in the home would be linked to the internet within a decade.

So far the company has released an internet-enabled thermostat that can learn homeowners' heating preferences, a sensor that can detect carbon monoxide and shut down the boiler, and a camera that allows users to monitor their home remotely.