The Car Connectivity Consortium announced today that the specifications of the NFC-based Digital Key Release 2.0 have been finalized and made available to its members, including Apple. New clues to CarKey ‘s upcoming arrival?
A new step forward for the arrival of CarKey, the system that will transform the iPhone into a digital key.
The Digital Key Release 2.0 specification allows mobile devices to store, authenticate and share digital keys for vehicles with end-to-end security and privacy. The specs include support for a low-power mode, which means that a vehicle can also be unlocked with a smartphone that has recently run out of battery, similar to the Power Reserve mode for Apple Pay transit cards.
The consortium is also developing a new Digital Key 3.0 specification based on Bluetooth LE and Ultra Wideband to allow passive and keyless access based on the user’s location. This technology would allow you to leave your iPhone in your pocket or backpack while accessing or starting the vehicle. The models in the iPhone 11 range come with a U1 chip designed by Apple with Ultra-Wideband support, so Apple may choose to offer this feature as soon as it is available.
Thanks to this digital key, users will be able to lock and unlock the door, start the engine and share access to their car with others. Unlike some remote control solutions that take advantage of Wi-Fi or Bluetooth communications, however, Release 1.0 is linked to short-range NFC technology.
Building on the existing Trusted Service Manager (TSM) infrastructure, version 1.0 of this standard allows car manufacturers to securely transfer digital key information to a mobile device. This solution is also perfect for those who manage fleets of rental or car-sharing cars since it is possible to authorize certain smartphones for a limited period of time. Specialized hardware such as near-field communication chip and internal security elements offer a high level of protection for the user.
Just like with credit cards or event and transport tickets, users will be able to add their car’s digital key to the Wallet app on iOS. Once the digital key has been added, it will no longer be necessary to use the physical key and users will be able to unlock and lock the car’s doors, as well as start the engine. All you need to do is have your iPhone or Apple Watch near the car and authenticate with Face ID. By touching the relevant tab, information such as the car model, its manufacturer, the possibility of activating Express mode and an option to share the key with other users will be displayed. When digitally sharing a car key, the primary user can provide the other three levels of access, including the ability to unlock only the trunk, unlock the doors or activate the engine.
We also know that Apple is working with BMW to bring CarKey to the first compatible cars. It’s unclear when Apple plans to make CarKey publicly available. The function is not activated in iOS 13.4, even if it is present within the code. CarKey could be introduced with iOS 14, or in any case when the first compatible cars are available.
