Among the first applications of Google's Android Digital Car Key, compatible BMW cars can now be unlocked, locked, and started with specific Android smartphones. BMW and Google announced on Wednesday (December 1) that with this release, the BMW Digital Key already available for iPhone is now available for Samsung Galaxy S21 series, Google Pixel 6 and Google Pixel 6 Pro equipped with Android.

Using the BMW digital key on the Android phone, the customer can unlock and lock the car by placing the phone close to the driver's door handle. When they put the phone in the BMW wireless charging bay, they can start the engine.

BMW said in a press release: “In order to ensure maximum ease of use and safety, the BMW digital key is stored on the secure element of the smartphone.” “It can be easily configured through the My BMW app, and then can be used as a Options for all BMW models."

More features are on the way 

The automaker said that in the next version, customers will be able to share keys with up to five friends. In addition, future versions will add functions based on ultra-wideband.

If BMW Digital Key Plus, now available for iPhone and using ultra-wideband, is any guide, then these features might include the ability to unlock, lock and start the car without having to bring the phone close to the door handle or place it at the door handle. Charging compartment-on the contrary, customers can put their mobile phones where they usually carry them.

This is a feature that Google highlighted in a blog post on May 18 that announced the upcoming Android digital car key.

"By using ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, you don't even have to use your phone as a car key," Google said. "For models that support NFC, you can unlock it by simply tapping your phone on the door. Since it is all digital, if friends and family need to borrow your car, you can also safely share your car keys with them remotely. "

Android Auto is already running on 100 million cars 

Google announced several new Android features in a blog post on December 1st, including digital car keys. "We will continue to introduce new ways to integrate your phone and car more closely."

Google announced that only BMW is the partner using digital car keys, but it also said it is cooperating with other automakers. Android Auto is available for more than 100 million cars, including most new cars from about 60 brands around the world.

BMW vehicles compatible with digital keys are also equipped with key cards or key fobs. Prudent drivers will use these as backups in case they have problems with their smartphone-based digital keys, such as the recent problems encountered by Tesla drivers.

Read more: Tesla drivers understand what happens when a connected car encounters a software interruption

In that case, the digital key cannot be used for a period of time due to a software interruption. However, users reported that they had encountered problems in underground parking lots and areas with more Wi-Fi connections in the past, which interfered with the operation of the application.

New report: TECHREG™ CHRONICLE-December 2021

About: This report represents the first edition of TechREG™ Chronicle. The regulation of digital business is becoming one of the hallmark issues of our time. With this new publication, we seek to contribute to the debate and discussion about when, how, and when not to regulate digital services and the key technologies they use.

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