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BMW was the first car manufacturer to adopt Apple's CarKey function. Now an improved version has been announced.
With the CarKey function it is possible to store digital car keys in the Wallet app. deposit. Users can use it to lock and unlock a car and start the engine. Authentication via Face ID or Touch ID is required to initiate the process - but there is also an express mode. Basically, the functionality is the same as Apple Pay. If desired, such keys can be shared temporarily or permanently with friends or family members via iMessage.
BMW: Digital Key Plus uses ultra-wideband (UWB) technology
Bavarian car manufacturer BMW was the first vehicle manufacturer to implement the whole thing. But an improved version is to follow next year - Digital Key Plus. While CarKey relies on NFC, the new version called Digital Key Plus uses the ultra-wideband technology found in the U1 chip of the iPhone 11, iPhone 12 and Apple Watch Series 6. BMW brands its CarKey support as Digital Key. Digital Key Plus is a next-generation version that works with a longer range and offers more precise directional control, so users can unlock their car without taking the iPhone out of their pocket.
As one of the pioneers in using the smartphone as a digital vehicle key, BMW has been driving the development and popularization of the BMW Digital Key function since 2018, which is already available to iPhone users today. To this end, the premium car manufacturer is introducing the BMW Digital Key Plus, a convenient and secure way to unlock and start the vehicle without taking the iPhone out of your pocket. This latest incarnation of the service is based on ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, the technology found in the iPhone's U1 chip.
New key system is used in the BMW iX
BMW according to Precise localization should also increase security.
The new, additional functions enabled by the BMW Digital Key Plus are based on ultra-wideband technology. This is a short-range, high-bandwidth digital radio technology that is characterized by particularly precise localization with the greatest possible security. The precision of UWB also ensures that relay attacks, in which the radio signal is disrupted or intercepted, are not possible.
According to the automaker, the new key system will first be used in the BMW iX, an all-electric SUV that is expected to offer a range of up to 600 KM. The interior of the vehicle - which is based on the X5/X6/X7 series - is Tesla-like in its simplicity.
Digital Key Plus: Basis for a new standard?
The displays and controls are reduced to the essentials, which reinforces the impression of a tidy cabin that offers a place to relax. The technology of the BMW iX is used intelligently and is only visible when it is needed.
The Digital Key Plus approach is expected to form the basis of a new standard of the digital key specification, version 3.0, which both Apple and BMW are working on as part of the Car Connectivity Consortium. Digital keys offer owners a number of benefits, apart from a more convenient way to unlock the car. If users lose a physical key, it can be deauthorized remotely. Digital keys, on the other hand, offer more flexibility, including in terms of sharing. On offer: MagSafe Duo charger 18 percent cheaper (Image: BMW)
