Last year, BMW released Digital Key Plus for the iPhone, which lets BMW owners lock and unlock their car and start it from a distance using their iPhone or Apple Watch. When it came out, there was a promise that it would be available on Android phones. Today, some of those phones got what they were promised.
Ultra-wideband (UWB) technology is used to make sure that the phone and the car can talk to each other safely. With the update released today, some Samsung and Google Pixel phones with Android 13 or later and ultra-wideband support can now use the tool.
In particular, the feature will work on the Galaxy S23+, S23 Ultra, S22+, S22 Ultra, S21+, S21 Ultra, Z Fold 4, Z Fold 3, Note 20 Ultra (in countries where Samsung Wallet is available), Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel 6 Pro.
Not only does it only work with certain phones, but it also only works with cars made after November 2022. An upcoming software update will make some older models compatible.
The My BMW tool is used to set up. Once Digital Key Plus is turned on, it can work in place of your actual key. The feature can be set up to do things like unlock your car when you get close to it, so you don’t have to dig through your bag to find your keys or phone.
It can also be set to lock when you walk away from the car. This way, you won’t have to go out to the garage late at night to make sure you locked the doors when you got home with all your groceries.
BMW says that the accuracy of UWB means that “the risk of relay attacks, where the radio signal is jammed or intercepted, is virtually eliminated,” making it a safe alternative to traditional keys. It can also be set up to work with up to five other iOS or Android devices, so if other people in your home use the same car, you don’t have to pass around keys.
Read More:
Samsung Just Put Out A Photo-Editing App for The Galaxy S23 that Uses AI.
Silicon Valley Leaders Want to Offer Faster Internet Services.
