iPhone Users Can Now Share Digital Car Keys With Pixel Users, Wider Android Support Coming Soon

[MacRumors]

In 2020, Apple introduced a digital car key feature that allows users to unlock and start a compatible vehicle by bringing an iPhone or Apple Watch near the driver-side door. The car keys are stored in the Wallet app in the same way that a credit card is. The feature is currently limited to select BMW, Kia, and Genesis vehicles.

Apple has been working with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and others to establish an industry standard for sharing digital keys across platforms. As part of this effort, Apple today announced that iPhone users can now share car keys in the Wallet app with Pixel device users through apps such as Messages, Mail, and WhatsApp. Simply choose a car key in the Wallet app, tap the Share button, and follow the steps.

Apple says Google will be expanding this functionality to select other smartphones running Android 12 or later soon.

Key sharing support was enabled on the iPhone with iOS 16.1 in late October. Apple outlines additional information regarding key sharing in the Wallet app in a support document, including steps to revoke access to a shared car key.

Article Link: iPhone Users Can Now Share Digital Car Keys With Pixel Users, Wider Android Support Coming Soon

 

[totom_]

Can somebody check-in with the devil and ask him if hell froze over?

 

[iMerik]

Can somebody check-in with the devil and ask him if hell froze over?

I was surprised to read this too, but it's really good news!

 

[mikebenton]

I'm more interested in the reverse. My vehicle supports Android Digital Key, but not Apple.

 

[crisss1205]

I'm more interested in the reverse. My vehicle supports Android Digital Key, but not Apple.

What car? As far as I know, only select BMWs support Android Digital Key and they also support Apple Phone Key too.

 

[crisss1205]

Just tried it on a Pixel 7 Pro and it says the phone is not supported. 😔

 

[russell_314]

Why would I share my car key with someone that has an android phone. Clearly I’d be under duress 😂😂😂

 

[Gengar]

This, but no RCS support...

 

[justanotherdave]

I'm more interested in the reverse. My vehicle supports Android Digital Key, but not Apple.

That doesn’t make any sense. If your vehicle doesn’t support Apple, then what would be the point of sharing your digital key with an Apple user?

 

[exoticSpice]

Why would I share my car key with someone that has an android phone. Clearly I’d be under duress 😂😂😂

Thank God I don't live in America

 

[DanTheMan827]

Great! Now maybe they can work on sharing AirTags...

 

[compwiz1202]

Why would I share my car key with someone that has an android phone. Clearly I’d be under duress 😂😂😂

LOL I ws thinking this. Some thug will come up and be Share Your Key with me NOW!!!

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Thank God I don't live in America

Nobody has ever stolen a car or committed a crime in your country I guess.

 

[crisss1205]

That doesn’t make any sense. If your vehicle doesn’t support Apple, then what would be the point of sharing your digital key with an Apple user?

It depends on how exactly this standard works. Since it’s an open standard, you would think that if one device supports it then all device that support that standard would work too.

 

[cocky jeremy]

This, but no RCS support...

99.999% couldn't care less about that.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

99.999% couldn't care less about that.

Won't you please think of the .001% for once?

 

[robbietop]

RFC 4900: How to use a Schlage key on a Victorian Mortise Lock

 

[3530025]

99.999% couldn't care less about that.

Judging just by yourself and your iPhone bubble. Guess what, rest of the world have more Android phones than iPhones. It's always great to have people connected and not locked in one ecosystem.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Can somebody check-in with the devil and ask him if hell froze over?

I wouldn't worry about that until they add 5G support to Google Fi for the iPhone, and then RCS.

 

[addamas]

RFC 4900: How to use a Schlage key on a Victorian Mortise Lock

Exactly, only we worry about lowering the security level?

 

[genovelle]

This, but no RCS support...

Even Google doesn’t support properly on their devices because it’s a mess and doesn’t even support full encryption yet. I think Google was hoping to shame Apple into using it so they can fix it.

 

[genovelle]

I wouldn't worry about that until they add 5G support to Google Fi for the iPhone, and then RCS.

Google FI is a spy network and RCS is an unencrypted mess that Google doesn’t fully support themselves.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Google FI is a spy network and RCS is an unencrypted mess that Google doesn’t fully support themselves.

Every network operator is a spy network. The FCC under Pai officially allowed all ISPs to use your internet activity to market to you.

This is beside the point though. It already exists, it’s just not certified for 5G apparently because Google won’t pay Apple to add it to the official list.

Not sure where you are getting your information RCS, it’s essentially backwards to the truth. It is encrypted if the implementation uses encryption, and it does (at least according to Google) because Google is the only one running the servers for it anymore because the telcos decided they couldn’t monetize it.

I’m not advocating for RCS in its current form. It’s a little like Mastodon. It’s supposed to be a federated service but the only relevant player is Google.

 

[mikebenton]

That doesn’t make any sense. If your vehicle doesn’t support Apple, then what would be the point of sharing your digital key with an Apple user?

Android Digital Key uses NFC. iPhone has NFC capability. What part of that doesn't make sense? If my iPhone supports Android's implementation of Digital Key, then I can add the key to my phone and use it. I don't think the car cares if it's an iPhone or Android.

 

[fwmireault]

Only car keys? When Apple announced this feature at WWDC, I assumed it was also for home keys as it is basically the same technology. Hopefully it’s coming soon