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iOS 13.4 Beta Reveals 'CarKey' Feature That Would Turn Your iPhone or Apple Watch Into a Car Key

I expect keys to be a thing of the past within 5 years (not counting upgrading old hardware). Also wallets, physical IDs, bank cards, etc.

And yes there will be issues along the way.
 
jdclifford said:
I've never understood appeal of CarPlay. I have it but prefer factory nav sys & Sirius XM radio. CarPlay is just a 2nd screen for iPhone.
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"CarPlay is just a 2nd screen for iPhone" In one sense, you're right. But what's wrong with that? I have my phone with me 24/7. I use my car less than one hour out of that day. Why should I pay for additional media subscriptions, cellular data service, etc. for the sake of that one hour? Why should I have to buy an optional Nav system that costs more than the phone I already own? Why should I have to port my contacts list/address book from my phone to the car? Will the car system have access to my phone's calendar to know I have an appointment in 30 minutes and then automatically offer turn-by-turn instructions to that destination?

The time I spend in the car is a small part of my day. I'd rather have the system that's with me 24/7 integrate seamlessly with my car than have an independent/redundant system in the car that integrates poorly with the rest of my life and requires an additional learning curve.

Now, would I buy a car solely because it has CarPlay? No. However, it's more than enough to tip the balance in a buying decision.

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Back to car keys... which has been one of those obvious applications for NFC for years now (what's taken them so long?) Some of the "key" benefits to me are:

Easier (and cheaper) replacement of lost/worn-out fobs.
Less likelihood of having a fob with a dead battery (more likely your phone will be charged).
Multiple keys in case one is lost (watch, phone, fob).
I'd probably still carry the fob, as it may be necessary occasionally for valet parking, automotive service/repair, etc. That means I have a backup to the fob if it's misplaced (very small probability of it happening, but it's always on my mind when I hand the fob to a stranger).
 
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This is just the wrong way to use technology.

Just because the technology is able to do this, doesn't make it a great solution.

There's nothing wrong with opening car doors or house doors right now with physical keys or key fobs.

There is little to no benefit in the technology being suggested here. In fact, I would say it adds complexity. There's a huge security issue in that someone could potentially steal someone's car if they have your phone (or access to your phone). Secondly, what if you lose your phone? What if your iPhone or Apple Watch is dead and needs charging?

People don't need this, they're not asking for it, it barely improves over what exists already, and there are problems with allowing technology to do this.

If there are people who need and want this and they've been asking for it, then fine; someone somewhere is going to be happy. I just don't personally ever see wanting to use this and I just don't see it as a useful or exciting use of technology. 🤷‍♂️
 
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My son's F-150 had his driver door handle froze and broke when he opened so could not use a physical key. Meanwhile his stereo module failed before he got this fixed, which was drawing power causing his battery to fail so neither FOB or keypad on outside would unlock, could not pop the hood to charge battery - needed someone to come open the vehicle. Before he was able to get any of this diagnosed he had to leave vehicle unlocked every night in case needed to charge.
 
JediStarWars said:
There is little to no benefit in the technology being suggested here. In fact, I would say it adds complexity. There's a huge security issue in that someone could potentially steal someone's car if they have your phone (or access to your phone).
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How is that worse than someone having access to your key or fob?
Secondly, what if you lose your phone? What if your iPhone or Apple Watch is dead and needs charging?
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For one, an Apple Watch could be a backup for a phone (or vice versa). The Tesla Model 3 comes with credit card-sized NFC cards that you can keep in your wallet as a backup.
 
I can just see it now as you walk away from the vehicle.

“Hey dude nice car. Is it yours?”
“Yeah!”
*runs over and gets in*
MF’er doesn’t even have a key t... uh oh
 
Love all the, why wouldn't I just use my FOB, it can already do this... And then the people that can't be bothered to read the info enough and get details wrong that make it sound like it will be inconvenient.

Personally, I've been dreaming of this for years. If it really takes off think of all the possibilities.

1. I don't want to carry FOB's around everywhere all the time. I already hate having to have a key when I'm mountain biking, snowboarding, etc. My watch is strapped to my arm!

2. Your phone/watch is your key for every vehicle you own. If I need to drive my wife's car, no problem, my watch/phone is the key. Oh, we're switching cars, OK, my watch/phone is the key for that too.

3. You could give your kids access to unlock/lock the doors with THEIR phones/watches but they wouldn't be able to start the car.

4. Have access to a fleet of cars at work, cool, you already have a key that works on all of them, or could potentially be scheduled.

5. Want to loan your car to a friend, you could give them permissions to drive it for a certain period of time.

Just those make it worth it but imagine the possibilities.

1. Your watch/phone could remember the radio presets you use and they could follow you vehicle to vehicle (and be location based)

2. Use fleet or rental cars that have the memory functions (seat, mirrors, etc.) cool, your phone/watch could know the settings you've programmed for different brands/models. Set it up on one Toyota Camry and every one you get in after that knows where to put the seat, mirrors and HVAC for you already.
 
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I used to think these type of features would be amazing but nowadays I really don't care.

The car key does this, it weights nothing, its battery lasts years and I like the car to lock exactly when I want to.

Phones just aren't reliable enough in a way to trust to leave everything home.

Still there are plenty of situations when this might come in handy.
 
iTundra said:
Tesla has had this for about 4 years. Key in pocket (no need to press buttons) is easiest but on several occasions when I can't find my key I've used by phone instead.
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Yep been using it for a while and it is amazing. I haven't carried car keys or a heavy keychain for a while and have never looked back!
 
JediStarWars said:
This is just the wrong way to use technology.

Just because the technology is able to do this, doesn't make it a great solution.

There's nothing wrong with opening car doors or house doors right now with physical keys or key fobs.

There is little to no benefit in the technology being suggested here. In fact, I would say it adds complexity. There's a huge security issue in that someone could potentially steal someone's car if they have your phone (or access to your phone). Secondly, what if you lose your phone? What if your iPhone or Apple Watch is dead and needs charging?

People don't need this, they're not asking for it, it barely improves over what exists already, and there are problems with allowing technology to do this.

If there are people who need and want this and they've been asking for it, then fine; someone somewhere is going to be happy. I just don't personally ever see wanting to use this and I just don't see it as a useful or exciting use of technology. 🤷‍♂️
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Maybe in a 50 years when the technology and has become common place we (or our grand kids) will look back, laugh at how clunky things were during it's infancy.
1716.jpg

This is the great-great-great granddaddy of our portable music player.
 
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This is pretty neat. I've rented cars on Getaround, and they have phone entry within the app, where as long as I'm within a certain proximity based on GPS I can lock & unlock the car. It was only a matter of time until it was baked into iOS.
 
Omega V said:
I'm trying to get on your level. I only carry my driver's license and credit card (don't use a debit card) so I have a Mujjo iPhone Wallet Case.

I HATE needing to carry keys, especially in my pockets, but when my new house is finish being built in a few months it will have smart-locks installed so I won't have to carry around house keys.

But how did you get around not needing a key FOB for your car?

I have the unlock/lock feature that I use through the Audi app but it's pain to use and takes at least 5-8 minutes to even unlock or lock the doors.
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With Chevy and Mercedes you can just leave the fob in the car and then lock the car with the app.
 
How are you able to write this article and not bring up Tesla?

What other car has NFC in it that would be able to work with this feature?

Tesla Model 3 already has an NFC reader in the door pillar + in the center console, so you can tap the watch on the pillar to unlock and then in the center console to allow the car to shift into drive. And Tesla's OTA software updates means millions Tesla vehicles going back 4 years will gain the feature overnight, once Apple is ready.

Geez - can you imagine Musk (Tesla CEO) coming out on stage during an Apple keynote? Probably wouldn't happen - Apple is moving into cars and Tesla is moving into the whole software ecosystem thing, so the companies are working towards becoming rivals.
 
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There's absolutely zero chance any car manufacturer would buy into this. CarPlay is one thing- but the keys to the car dependent on Apple? Never
 
thawk9455 said:
Personally, I've been dreaming of this for years. If it really takes off think of all the possibilities.
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I don't have anything against anyone who is in favor of the technology.

Here's my concern: Everything, all tied to one device... and the device stops working for any number of reasons. Where software and hardware are concerned, something could happen to prevent you getting access to your car. That could be a safety issue. It could waste time in an emergency etc.

Battery. Software conflicts. Hardware failure. Stolen device. Bricked phone during OS upgrades etc... The potential for problems is dramatically increased with technology in this particular usage situation.

Keys/fobs are more reliable than hardware and software. Not fullproof, batteries can run out on fobs too, right?

I question how reliable it would be, in reality, having everything tied to a hardware/software device.

If they can prove (or time can prove) that it's 100% effective and reliable, then agreed, progress would have been made. 👍
 
I dont see the urge to have that. I already have the key fob in my pocket and I do not need to take it out
Watch and phone will make life more complicated...useless
 
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now i see it said:
There's absolutely zero chance any car manufacturer would buy into this. CarPlay is one thing- but the keys to the car dependent on Apple? Never
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Not dependent on Apple, rather utilization of a standard like Apple Pay & PayPass. This way Androids etc don’t get left out. And leaves it future proof for other technologies
 
For a while in Japan, Toyota sold a luxury car that came with a watch that doubled as the keyless-entry keyfob. It was the same tech as the Prius I then owned, and I was *REALLY* tempted to import one, but then discovered that the only way to pair a keyfob with the Prius was to insert the key in to the key slot - which the watch obviously couldn't do.

I'd much rather have this on my watch than my phone. Working like conventional keyless-entry keyfobs. Even better if it works with low-power-mode like transit passes. That would make things like going for a run or swim easier - I can just wear my (waterproof) Apple Watch, and not have to carry keys or phone.

Hodar1 said:
Toyota/Lexus has had this for nearly a decade. FOB in pocket, walk to door, place hand in handle - door unlocks. Go to rear of door, press hatch button, rear opens.
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Yes, most manufacturers have had this for over a decade. My 2004 Toyota had it. This does seem slightly overcomplicating, hence my desire to have it be longer-range, like the keyless-entry fobs.
 
I’d love to be able to unlock my car with my watch after a surf
 
larrylaffer said:
Or maybe some people want to listen Apple Music, or Spotify, or something else that isn't SiriusXM.

Or maybe they want the traffic rerouting in Waze.

Or maybe one of the million other reasons CarPlay is better than OEM nav :)
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Any chance you can avail us of the other 999,999 reasons?
 
profets said:
I currently drive a Model 3
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How are so many people are able to afford these cars. The starting price for a Model 3 is $56k here in Canada. I don't think I'll ever be able to justify spending that much, the monthly payment would be on par with my mortgage.
 
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