Apple iPhone to be used as car key... Applied to BMW 5 Series in July

On the 22nd (local time), Tim Cook, Apple CEO, delivered the keynote speech at the 2020 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) held online.
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] From now on, Apple's iPhone can be used as a car key. This feature, which replaces the existing smart key, will be applied starting with the 2021 BMW 5 Series in July.

According to the economic media CNBC, on the 22nd (local time), Apple announced an iOS operating system upgrade that allows drivers to use their iPhone as a digital car key to start and stop the vehicle. This is supported by the current version iOS 13 and the upcoming iOS 14.

Drivers must first pair their iPhone with a car that supports a new feature called CarKey. Depending on the driver's profile settings, face or fingerprint verification is required. There is also an 'Express Mode' to skip this step. CNBC reported, "Once inside the vehicle, the driver's iPhone (iPhone 11) can start the engine even if it is in a pocket or bag."

Apple has enabled sharing of the digital car key with family, friends, and others via iMessage. However, the vehicle owner can limit the time the shared key recipient can access their vehicle. Apple also included a feature that allows drivers to disable this function via iCloud if the iPhone is lost. Even if the iPhone battery runs out, the digital key can still be used for several additional hours.

Usage of Apple's digital car key revealed at the 2020 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC2020) [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Apple's digital key feature will first be introduced in the 2021 BMW 5 Series starting this July. It will then be applied to other BMW series. Apple stated, "We are working with industry groups to apply Apple's core digital features to more cars and to establish an industry standard using the ultra-wideband chip U1 next year."

Meanwhile, at the 2020 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC2020) held online from this day, Apple unveiled the latest operating system iOS 14 and announced that Macs to be released at the end of the year will be equipped with self-designed chips instead of Intel chips.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.