BMW is expanding the functions of the iPhone car key: With the “Digital Key Plus”, in addition to the near-radio technology NFC, ultra-broadband (UWB) will also be supported in the future, as the car manufacturer has now announced. This makes it possible to unlock the vehicle with the digital key stored on the iPhone as soon as it approaches, without having to take the smartphone out of your pocket.

Electric SUV iX with ultra broadband The Digital Key Plus with ultra broadband will be introduced with the electric SUV iX, announced BMW. The model series should go on sale in autumn 2021.

The use of ultra-broadband technology not only promises more comfort when opening and starting the vehicle, but is also intended to increase safety: Since radio technology enables precise position determination, it should also make relay attacks impossible, as the car manufacturer emphasized.

Experienced thieves are able to extend the key radio signal with classic keyless go systems and thus usually open high-priced cars. With ultra-broadband it is possible to measure the distance between transmitter and receiver very precisely using the signal propagation time, so you do not have to rely on the reception level alone. An iPhone with ultra broadband is required to use it, Apple’s U1 chip is currently in all iPhone 11 – and iPhone – 12 – model series as well as the Apple Watch Series 6.

iPhone car keys so far only from BMW BMW is the first and so far only manufacturer to support Apple’s digital car keys introduced last year. Almost the entire BMW model range from the 1st of July production date 12 offers the option of being unlocked and started using the iPhone NFC interface, the minimum requirement here is an iPhone XR. The digital key can be shared with up to five people via iMessage and supports profiles with restrictions, such as the maximum speed.

The technology is building based on the digital key specification of the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC), version 3.0 uses Bluetooth low energy and ultra broadband. In addition to Apple and BMW, the consortium also includes Volkswagen, Honda, General Motors and Hyundai as well as Samsung among its members. According to reports, Hyundai plans to support Apple’s digital car keys soon.

(lbe)