[RahulNagaraj]

Recently, Google held its developer conference in which, it showcased a new feature called the 'digital car key'. This new feature, which will be rolled out with the upcoming Android 12 operating software, will allow users to lock, unlock and start their car with their smartphones.



While Google has not revealed the exact details of how the system works, it did state that the feature will make use of technologies such as Near Field Communications (NFC) and Ultra Wide Band (UWB). Both these technologies will allow users to just tap their smartphones over the cars' door handles, to either lock or unlock the vehicles.

Google also stated that the digital car key feature can be shared in a secure manner with friends and family, when a car is borrowed.

The company states that the digital car key will help in lightening users' pockets, removing the necessity of carrying bulky key fobs whenever heading out. However, the new feature will initially be available only on high-end smartphones from Pixel and the Samsung Galaxy series.

BMW has partnered with Google and could introduce this feature (at a premium) on a future model. However, neither Google, nor BMW mentioned the exact model that would debut this feature.

This isn't the first time such a feature has been announced. Back in 2020, Apple had announced its version of the 'Car Key', compatible with its iPhone and watch devices.

Link to Team-BHP news

[haisaikat]

the feature will make use of technologies such as Near Field Communications (NFC) and Ultra Wide Band (UWB). Both these technologies will allow users to just tap their smartphones over the cars' door handles, to

The way cars get stolen exploiting the keyless entry protocols, this feature has to be made highly secure and tamper proof. Otherwise this may provide a recipe of easy theft in the wrong hands.

BMW has partnered with Google and could introduce this feature (at a premium) on a future model. However, neither Google, nor BMW mentioned the exact model that would debut this feature

Don't BMW owners prefer iPhones over Androids?

Rental car services could benefit from this with a contactless handover or takeover of cars at designated locations and the whole system can be automated 24x7.

It would just be a matter of paying the rent or advance and getting the code to unlock the car downloaded in the companion app to unlock the car in turn to get started.

But physical keys may not go away this easily. Phone running out of battery, electronic malfunctions and other uncertainties will remain.

[GutsyGibbon]

Originally Posted by RahulNagaraj

Google also stated that the digital car key feature can be shared in a secure manner with friends and family, when a car is borrowed.

I found myself using NFC based digital key at a Vegas casino/hotel last week. I could check-in remotely, the digital key would get enabled in the app. I could also share this key with another person, just like giving them a duplicate key. No need to ever go to reception to check-in or checkout.

[astrodex]

One ring to bind them all. Automobile manufacturers had resisted entry of Big Tech into their world for a while, but seems they have given up on that. I remember when I was working in similar field how hard it was to get them to integrate services, they really wanted a walled garden for upsell. The last frontier is also getting integrated into the digital world.

But this is going to be useful to the customers, it will slowly enable a lot more integration including a seamless merge of your phone with car and instead of clunky features where you have to plug/put your phone in a slot and click a bunch of buttons for navigation etc. It should also open up a lot of exciting new scenarios. Flipside is that it also means more of your personal data is going to be the fodder for such features.

[Fiestaboy]

Originally Posted by RahulNagaraj

Recently, Google held its developer conference in which, it showcased a new feature called the 'digital car key'.

While Google has not revealed the exact details of how the system works, it did state that the feature will make use of technologies such as Near Field Communications (NFC) and Ultra Wide Band (UWB). Both these technologies will allow users to just tap their smartphones over the cars' door handles, to either lock or unlock the vehicles.

This isn't the first time such a feature has been announced. Back in 2020, Apple had announced its version of the 'Car Key', compatible with its iPhone and watch devices.

From my opinion, Google/Apple should have lead this, but Chinese companies took the lead long back.

Most low end/ mid range phones won't have the NFC/UWB features.
Only top end phones have these features in India.

The most popular/deployed method in this feature (also called as PAAK - Phone as a Key), uses Bluetooth Low Energy module (BLE) instead of NFC/UWB.

Note:
When the google key is shared with other user, that particular user's phone should also have NFC/UWB in his/her phone. However if we deploy it in BLE method, it will be much more easier as almost every cellphones now have Bluetooth.
One more noteworthy point is that once the phone gets switched off/ broken, we will not be able to lock/unlock the vehicle.

[Kosfactor]

I wonder what is new about this, Mercedes , Audi etc use to provide this via NFC + some other tech combination - Samsung \ Huawei etc had some tech built in for this several years ago.

Google is going to be running the infotainment system on a lot of cars in the future - this is not just a phone projection but core infotainment OS via Android Automotive OS, we can expect an MG hector like system running on android.

[PrasunBannerjee]

I always had been thinking, why hasn't tech giant come up with a unified feature for this yet. Now we have it. Nothing still beats the old fashioned key/flippy key and cranking it up!

However, these advancements raise more concerns on safety and hackability.

Cranking the engine using a physical key is soon to become a museum age technology!

Originally Posted by Kosfactor

I wonder what is new about this, Mercedes , Audi etc use to provide this via NFC + some other tech combination - Samsung \ Huawei etc had some tech built in for this several years ago.

Google is going to be running the infotainment system on a lot of cars in the future - this is not just a phone projection but core infotainment OS via Android Automotive OS, we can expect an MG hector like system running on android.

This is Google. They'll definitely bring something new to the table, plus with Google doing it, this will democratize the tech/application faster than ever. Now in coming times Maruti doesn't need to build one on their own, just license it like Android.

[RGK]

Originally Posted by RahulNagaraj

Recently, Google held its developer conference in which, it showcased a new feature called the 'digital car key'.

This isn't the first time such a feature has been announced. Back in 2020, Apple had announced its version of the 'Car Key', compatible with its iPhone and watch devices.

Tesla has this kind of feature to lock/unlock and start the car using the app on the phone.

[lemedico]

Originally Posted by RGK

Tesla has this kind of feature to lock/unlock and start the car using the app on the phone.

Similarly, I can do the same on my 5th gen Honda City. I believe this is a Google pay like development. We already had individual bank apps on our phones to carry out transactions, but now all our accounts have made way to Google pay. I don't know why, but we shifted indeed.

[RGK]

Originally Posted by lemedico

I don't know why, but we shifted indeed.

OT: Having worked in this domain, the money transfer process is very easy using GP rather than adding/approving the beneficiary bank account etc. A lot can be discussed about this on a relevant thread.

[Raghu M]

High end tech to boost ancillary sales. Bring in high end tech and people have to upgrade various gadgets to live with it. Buy a car, you will get car connect and wireless charging but your phone should support it. What does a customer do? Mostly upgrade in 6 months. Who benefits from this? Companies that manufacture the high end devices. I think the next time we discuss a car's on road price, we also have to factor in the upgrades a customer has to take to use all features in the car. The way this kind of tech is advancing, the day will not be far when you won't even know your car was hacked and was being used by someone after you parked it.

[Arbind Ray]

Originally Posted by PrasunBannerjee

Cranking the engine using a physical key is soon to become a museum age technology!

Depicted in numerous iconic movies when getting behind the wheel of your prized possession. That antiquated sentiment changed when I purchased the Jaguar Autobiography few years back with keyless entry. I found the remote lock/start features practically useful when I was overseas as I could ensure the engine/battery received it's weekly run.

By overseas I was referring to India, where I'd be fumbling (and still do) to get the physical key in to start the Endeavour. As I got used to it I did not miss the keyless entry feature. In a way it felt more secure leaving it parked overnight knowing the vehicle had an extra layer of protection from opportunists. Security being as strong as it's weakest link means anything from a low battery to frequency scanners can compromise overall peace of mind. With all its advantages...forever hoping the latest technology doesn't let you down at a critical moment can disrupt confidence when you need it most.

Originally Posted by Raghu M

...Who benefits from this?

Cost of ownership issues aside, apart from commercial institutions whose primary goal is profit...there is scope to introduce the insidious nature of interfering with electronics of private property the instant it can be remotely accessed. At risk of going off topic, imagine you're riding a 'smart' motorcycle, see a gap in the road ahead and proceed to accelerate in order to overtake at speed...and the front breaks suddenly engaged...

[aashishnb]

So now, someone just needs to steal my phone (and be able to unlock it) and he gets a car also as a bonus :-)

[AnishRanjan]

I don't know where all of this madness will lead us to. It is simply to rob us of money and our piece of mind. These corp-orates want us to be their slaves forever and will suck every penny out of us for useless tech. Imagine your travelling to a remote place and your phone runs out of charge because you forgot to charge it. Or a scenario where you parked your car went for a hike and your phone fell by mistake and you broke your screen. You can get stranded and will end up spending a fortune for a small task like unlocking your car and starting it. These are small scenarios and lot more complications will arise, there is no debating of that. A physical key therefore makes more sense in our practical world. This is insane as we are going against the principles of simplifying our lives and keeping things simple. Mindless use of technology for simple tasks is just corporate greed to trap us in a vicious cycle. We consumers should be mindful of what we buy.

[armaan_singh]

I have just one big gripe with this system ; most people use their phones a lot and the last thing one needs is for the phone to die and then be locked out of the car itself. In this regard I liked Tata's idea more of having the key in the watch for the Nexon, however that didn't do anything else, I'm not even sure if it told the time, in which case it too was an extra piece to wear.