Travel in current climates is constantly changing and for a time, it seems that many are opting to commute using private forms of transport if they have the capacity to do so. Driving one’s own car to and from places eliminates the need to burden reduced public transport and reduces the risk of infection. The automotive industry continues to develop with numerous factories going live and new announcements coming from car makers. Moving towards electric is still is a work in progress and the connected nature of cars and smart devices is creeping ever closer. Tesla has of course been at the forefront of this but other firms seem to be looking at enhancing their own systems by revamping the way people access and start their vehicles.
The traditional lock and key system has seen changes, a keyless start is nothing new. So long as one carries their fob, moving towards their automobile will initiate the start-up sequence. BMW have made a few updates to their connected drive packages to make the connected driving experience a little more connected. In the palm of most modern day drivers there is a mobile phone, an ever developing piece of technology that packs in the daily necessities of life. I have sometimes wondered just what else a phone can be used for and BMW’s new Connected app answers this question in the form of a digital car key. Apple revealed it would support unlocking and starting of cars via its upcoming CarKey system, a feature ready to go in both iOS 13 and iOS14. Both the iPhone and Apple watch interface with Apple’s wallet application and facilitates unlocking via pairing/NFC technology.
BMW are one of the first to make use of this new system and in my opinion, a long time coming. When I think of what I should be leaving the house with, I often check for my keys, phone and wallet. Yet with a cashless society on the horizon and now a keyless one, some people may simply be ready for their day ahead with a phone in their hand and perhaps a charge bank. Security is of course a major concern in the digital world but for many, a smarter approach to driving might be the seamless experience that many drivers will appreciate in the coming months. The application also allows for key sharing with limits in place via the BMW Connected app, perhaps the time of losing one’s keys (physically) will be a thing of the past with an iPhone in hand.
https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/07/02/apple-digital-car-key-arrives-with-updated-bmw-connected-app
https://9to5mac.com/2020/07/02/bmw-car-key-support/