Apple is involved in creating a standard that will make your iPhone unlock your car

Our smartphones are getting smarter over time and their manufacturers are trying to come up with some extra new features every year. Nowadays, the phone can replace a wallet, you can upload movie tickets, airline tickets or discount cards to various shops. Now another function is being prepared that the phones of the future will support - they will be able to serve as car keys. It was because of this achievement that a consortium of manufacturers was founded, including Apple.

The Car Connectivity Consortium is focused on implementing technologies that will make it possible to use the smartphone of the future as a key to your car. In theory, you will be able to unlock the car with your phone, as well as start it and use it normally. Smartphones should thus serve as current keys/cards that have cars with automatic unlocking/keyless starting. In practice, it should be some kind of digital form of keys that will communicate with the car and thus recognize when the vehicle can be unlocked or started.

According to the official statement, the technology is being developed on the basis of an open standard, in which basically all manufacturers who will be interested in this technological innovation can participate. The new digital keys will work with current technologies such as GPS, GSMA, Bluetooth or NFC.

With the help of a special application, the car owner could perform many different tasks, including starting the heater remotely, starting, flashing the lights, etc. Some of these functions are already available today, for example, BMW offers something similar. However, this is a proprietary solution that is linked to one car manufacturer, or several selected models. The solution developed by the CCC consortium should be available to all who are interested in it.

Currently, the official Digital Key 1.0 specifications are published for phone and car manufacturers to work with. In addition to Apple and several other large smartphone and electronics manufacturers (Samsung, LG, Qualcomm), the consortium also includes large car manufacturers such as BMW, Audi, Mercedes and the VW concern. The first sharp implementation in practice is expected during the next year, the implementation will depend mainly on the willingness of car companies, the development of software for phones (and other devices, e.g. Apple Watch) will not be long at all.

Source: 9to5mac, iphonehacks