BMW’s digital key technology to work even if the phone’s dead

The German automaker has revealed the 2.0 version of Digital Key Technology, which is said to work if your phone is out of charge. The Digital Key 2.0 uses near-field communication (NFC) to unlock/lock your vehicle, start it remotely and give friends and family access to the car through the BMW Connected app.

BMW worked in tandem with Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC), an organization that provides smartphone-to-connectivity solutions, to building the new-gen Digital Key, which is said to provide more security to the car owners along with hassle-free entry/exit and other functions. 

Currently, the BMW Digital Key is compatible with Android phones. The interesting part is that the cabin-fitted infotainment system doesn’t support Android Auto yet but only Apple Carplay.

Moving forward, BMW mentioned the use of ultra-wide-band (UWB 3.0) technology, which is referred to as the way of transferring data over a short distance with low energy. What this means is that from now on, users will need not to hold their devices up close to the door handles, rather can keep them in their pockets to open the doors. 

Another advantage of UWB 3.0 technology is that it reduces the chances of relay attacks that thieves use to duplicate the digital frequency to unlock and start cars in case of the regular keyless entry systems. 

BMW is also working on standardising security protocols for keyless entry and digital systems widely used across the auto industry today. Alongside this, the company also said that the major smartphone manufacturers and automakers are now a part of the consortium and soon there’d be global standards.

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