It's been almost a year since Apple added the Car Key feature to the iPhone. Interested Apple users can now use their iPhones to start their cars. On Tuesday, Google announced at the Google I/O conference that it will also provide a car key feature later this year. Android 12 adds this feature, and it can turn your Android smartphone into a car key. However, it looks like the feature will initially only be available for Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices.
Google is indeed slow to update the car key feature for mobile phones, but the progress of automakers in this feature is also very slow. Actually Google mentioned only one car manufacturer brand with which it works - BMW. In addition, BMW recently announced a partnership with Samsung earlier this year. According to reports, BMW only promised support for digital car keys, there is no compatible model yet.
Є two main decisions to implement the function of changing the car key on a mobile phone. The solution is UWB (Ultra Wide Band Technology) and NFC (Near Field Communication Technology). Apple's latest iPhones and the latest Apple Watch Series 6 support UWB technology. This not only allows the phone to turn into a car key, but also allows users to find their car in a crowded parking lot.
More Android smartphones will support the "car key" function
The next-generation Google Pixel phones are also speculated to support UWB technology. However, considering the compatibility with the following devices, both Apple and Google mobile phones have built-in NFC chips. This means they can also support NFC solutions, turning a smartphone into a car key.
BMW may not be the only car manufacturer interested in the potential of UWB. Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors are also members of the UWB Alliance. In addition, Hyundai Motor is also a member of the FiRa Alliance, which specializes in the promotion of UWB. In addition, Apple, Google, Samsung, LG, BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai and Volkswagen are members of the CCC (Car Connectivity Consortium).
Regardless of which technical solution is ultimately chosen by the car manufacturer, institutions and manufacturers participating in this standard will allow users to use the car key function in smartphones of different brands. Samsung mentioned this at the Galaxy S21 conference earlier this year. Google also said it will release more information about the technical standards that will be adopted for the mobile phone's car key function later this year.
