Apple's Upcoming 'CarKey' Feature Will Let You Send Digital Keys Using Messages App

[Appleman3546]

I’m hoping that the feature lets users remotely disable access when previously sent (in case they don’t use it but then years later use it to steal the car). I am also hoping that there is a feature that allows users to share for use once or multiple times, such as if you son drives it frequently when he wants...

 

[xxray]

This would be less slower and less useful to me than my current keyless entry feature that came with my car. I just have to press the button on my door handle and my car can sense whether or not my fob and I are nearby. If I am, it'll unlock for me.

This feature would force me to take my phone out of my pocket, do a FaceID unlock, and make sure my phone was against the NFC sensor. Seems useful if you get locked out of your car, but less useful for daily use.

 

[Tech198]

oh boy.... sharing you keys has just become easier..

The tech may be good,, but that's about it.

 

[NoThanks2U]

Seriously Apple, stop selling us old tech. Enough with the B.S. already.

 

[macpro2000]

BMW is generally on the forefront of new vehicle tech. Still one of the very few with wireless CarPlay. May make my decision this summer much easier.

I think I’ll wait until August when I can order a new X7...should be one of the first to get it. Last thing I want to do is spend over $120k and not have the newest features.

 

[69Mustang]

This would be less slower and less useful to me than my current keyless entry feature that came with my car. I just have to press the button on my door handle and my car can sense whether or not my fob and I are nearby. If I am, it'll unlock for me.

This feature would force me to take my phone out of my pocket, do a FaceID unlock, and make sure my phone was against the NFC sensor. Seems useful if you get locked out of your car, but less useful for daily use.

It's not a replacement feature. It's an additional feature. You can use it when you want and forget it when you have no need for it. Kind of like the traditional key inside your fob. There when you want to use it.

Funny nitpick: if it's less slower that means it's quicker.
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I think I’ll wait until August when I can order a new X7...should be one of the first to get it. Woohooo!

Hyundai already has it.

 

[CarlJ]

i love the idea, but i can't neglect the fact that hijacking one's iCloud account gets more and more lucrative for criminals...

Just wait until they get the HomeKit interface for your iCloud compatible pacemaker
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I can already do this with my iPhone and Lincoln Aviator. Works great. No need for keys. Been using it for a while with ZERO issues so far. Don't have to do anything. Just have the phone in my pocket and touch the door it unlocks and push button it starts.

Nice, but I don't see it as a huge win over having the exact same user experience, just with the key fob in my pocket. I have a car "key", I just never take it out any more.

 

[demodave]

As discovered in the first beta of iOS 13.4, Apple is working on a new "CarKey" feature that will allow an iPhone or an Apple Watch to unlock, lock, and start NFC-compatible vehicles. ... [snip]

CarKey keys will be able to be shared with people in individual conversations but not in group conversations. From iOS 13.4 beta 2:Sharing a CarKey with someone will allow that person to use their iPhone or Apple Watch to access a compatible car by holding the device near an NFC reader located inside of the vehicle. Keys can be permanent (for a spouse) or temporary (for a valet driver or mechanic).

[snip]

I want this for HOUSE keys.

 

[henry72]

doing this with my tesla

Correct but I wish I could unlock via my Apple Watch too
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This is awesome news. Hopefully Tesla will support this!!

 

[PickUrPoison]

Seriously Apple, stop selling us old tech. Enough with the B.S. already.

Yes please enough with the BS. The Car Connectivity Consortium just released their 2.0 spec last month, which enables NFC. The 3.0 spec is months away, and will expand to Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and UWB.

Members include Apple, Audi, BMW, Buick, Citroën, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes Benz/Daimler, Renault, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo and others, including some Android phone manufacturers.
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This is awesome news. Hopefully Tesla will support this!!

I doubt Musk is interested.

 

[Babygotfont]

It WILL work on my 72 gremlin turbo

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

So why can't you carry a metal key in your phone case?

Are there still cars in production that can be unlocked with just a metal key? I thought all now include some chips inside the plastic part that electronically talk with the car before it unlocks (PK3 has been around for decades - I figured all cars were using that or something newer, if they even had key slots at all.)

That plastic part makes it a good deal bulkier than just a credit card.

 

[Babygotfont]

Yes please enough with the BS. The Car Connectivity Consortium just released their 2.0 spec last month, which enables NFC. The 3.0 spec is months away, and will expand to Bluetooth and UWB.

Members include Apple, BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar Land Rover, Mercedes Benz/Daimler, Renault, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo and others, including some Android phone manufacturers.
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I doubt Musk is interested.

I still have my cologne musk from 1982

 

[ke-iron]

What about a dead fob?

Your phone is much more likely to go dead than your fob.
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What if one often goes to places with valets, especially spontaneously? Since not all valets have iPhones or Apple watches, I think one will have to carry their key fob all the time anyway.

The fob isn’t going anywhere, I prefer my fob than using a phone, it’s easier to open my trunk, and roll down the windows from my fob than to unlock the phone, launch the app and apply settings

 

[macpro2000]

It's not a replacement feature. It's an additional feature. You can use it when you want and forget it when you have no need for it. Kind of like the traditional key inside your fob. There when you want to use it.

Funny nitpick: if it's less slower that means it's quicker.
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Hyundai already has it.

a Hyundai...what fun.

 

[69Mustang]

a Hyundai...what fun.

Wait... you want to throw shade at Hyundai regarding fun, but you're talking about buying a nearly 3 ton mall crawling SUV. Tee hee. Different strokes I guess.

 

[PickUrPoison]

I still have my cologne musk from 1982

You have used it properly; a little goes a long way.

Hopefully, like a fine wine, it’s improved with age. I scarcely think it’s possible that it’s gotten worse! 🦨 🤮 ☠ 😭

 

[CarlJ]

Your phone is much more likely to go dead than your fob.
...
The fob isn’t going anywhere, I prefer my fob than using a phone, it’s easier to open my trunk, and roll down the windows from my fob than to unlock the phone, launch the app and apply settings

Why do you assume you’d have to launch an app for something built in at the OS level and designed specifically for this task?

One of my Tesla-owning friends showed me how the car can be set to unlock in the immediate presence of his (Android) phone, just by the car sensing the correct nearby Bluetooth signature - the way that many keyfobs work these days (I never take my car “key” out of my pocket, the car simply unlocks when I grasp the door handle with the key in my pocket - I occasionally reach in and press the button to open the hatch).

Oh, and for the odd case when his phone is dead, he’s got a credit-card-sized Tesla card with an NFC chip. He can hold that up to the door pillar to unlock the car. The newer iPhones can do some sort of “NFC even with the power off”, designed for handling precisely such situations with subway turnstiles and college dorm entry doors and such - no unlocking the phone or launching an app. It would make sense for this CarKey functionality to build upon that.

Presumably Apple (and the consortium they’re working with) would be smart enough to have easy access from the lock screen for opening trunks and such.

 

[827538]

Huge key fob? I’m not sure what kind of car you have, but I’m actually impressed with how small these key fobs are today in terms of weight/slimness given all their core functionality.

also, there’s something about the overall weight of a key fob that I like, but it feels substantial, But that’s just me appreciating the little things.

I find my Range Rover Sport key fairly bulky and quite pointless. Quite clear it could be replaced with my iPhone.

 

[insomniac86]

i love the idea, but i can't neglect the fact that hijacking one's iCloud account gets more and more lucrative for criminals...

It doubt it.
If you Hijack my AppleID, you don't get my 5 Bank cards on my Apple Pay.
You still need to re-auth those cards....

The same will probably apply for the CarKey.
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Why do you assume you’d have to launch an app for something built in at the OS level and designed specifically for this task?

One of my Tesla-owning friends showed me how the car can be set to unlock in the immediate presence of his (Android) phone, just by the car sensing the correct nearby Bluetooth signature - the way that many keyfobs work these days (I never take my car “key” out of my pocket, the car simply unlocks when I grasp the door handle with the key in my pocket - I occasionally reach in and press the button to open the hatch).

Oh, and for the odd case when his phone is dead, he’s got a credit-card-sized Tesla card with an NFC chip. He can hold that up to the door pillar to unlock the car. The newer iPhones can do some sort of “NFC even with the power off”, designed for handling precisely such situations with subway turnstiles and college dorm entry doors and such - no unlocking the phone or launching an app. It would make sense for this CarKey functionality to build upon that.

Presumably Apple (and the consortium they’re working with) would be smart enough to have easy access from the lock screen for opening trunks and such.

Mate, I'm gonna have to ask you to leave this forum. Far too much sense and logic in your posts. 😉

 

[xDENTALPLANx]

Seriously Apple, stop selling us old tech. Enough with the B.S. already.

what are they really selling you here?

 

[asiga]

User: "Siri, open my car"
Siri: "You are not allowed to do that until you take the mandatory course in being a nice citizen"
User: "How did we arrive to this situation?"
Siri: "People didn't think the consequences when they thought this was cool"

[A thief in the nearby hacks the car, gets into it, and flies away]

User: "Siri, stop my car!!"
Siri: "You are not allowed to do that. I'm reporting what you are trying to do to the police".

 

[Smartass]

Huge key fob? I’m not sure what kind of car you have, but I’m actually impressed with how small these key fobs are today in terms of weight/slimness given all their core functionality.

also, there’s something about the overall weight of a key fob that I like, but it feels substantial, But that’s just me appreciating the little things.

I think this answers the question.

 

[44267547]

View attachment 895219

I think this answers the question.

Let’s break your picture down for a second:

The BMW key fob to the right in your picture is a totally unique/key fob that’s _not_ offered by 99% of the market in terms of what it actually controls And isn’t the ‘norm’ . That has a digital display where it allows you to physically use certain control maneuvers, Plus requires different transmitters/radio receivers, larger battery, etc all which contribute to that size/thickness, none of which is comparable to the majority of key fob’s on the market.

Secondly, the majority of key fobs have four main functions, lock/unlock, trunk, alarm, and remote start. My Dodge Charger Scat Pack key fob isn’t even close to being that size of that BMW key fob to the right, and yet has some of the same functionality without all the technology that no one specifically needs the BMW fob to the right in your picture.

Alternatively, I think this actually answers the question...😁

 

[Abazigal]

Makes sense that the car would be the ultimate iPhone accessory.