In a few days, maybe before, you’ll be able to unlock your car with your Apple Watch or iPhone, as long as you have a compatible car. This is the feature we’ve called CarKey so far, although Apple has no interest in doing so, referring to Virtual Car Keys, for example.
The feature was recently announced in WWDC as an iconic feature in iOS 14, but Apple continued to point out that it would also be for others with iOS 13.
This is the component of the puzzle that has still appeared, but is expected in the immediate future, I would say in a few days.
The inclusion of iOS thirteen is just one way to get the feature done sooner. After all, it only works on iPhones that will also be able to run iOS 14. It’s a smart call, there are other people who can’t wait to check it out.
It all took a step forward when the BMW Connected app for iPhone showed help for the feature, as seen through 9to5Mac.
The new BMW Five Series is one of the first to be able to carry out this trick, the company would like to point out that it will paint with a wide variety of models, in particular: 1.2, 3, 4, five, 6. , Xfive, X6, X7, XfiveM, X6M and Z4. Cars must be new, i.e. manufactured after 1 July 2020.
BMW in its application notes on the latest update:
“At the Global Developers Conference at Apple, BMW and Apple, BMW and Apple announced that BMW would be the first car manufacturer to allow its consumers to use the iPhone as a fully virtual car key. The close relationship of the two corporations has led to a real BMW car key securely stored on iPhone in Apple Wallet.
“BMW’s virtual key for iPhone will allow you to lock and unlock your car by holding the iPhone opposite to the doorknob and starting by tapping the iPhone into the smartphone tray. The car owner can also access up to five friends by percentage. The virtual key will also be taken through your Apple Watch. Virtual key settings can be done through the BMW Connected app while the virtual key is stored in Apple Wallet after setup. »
The absence of the definite article before most mentions of “iPhone” tells you that Apple had a hand in the drafting of the words, I’d say.
It also confirms that the feature works with iPhone XR, iPhone XS and later, as well as the existing Apple Watch, i.e. series five. In fact, BMW has abandoned the game a bit, as long-lasting Apple watches will also have capacity, no such computer has been announced, as it actually says ‘Series five or newer’. This is a very small mistake, and it is not a revolutionary marvel that the ability continues, however, it is strange that it has not been retained.
The way it works, as Apple and now BMW showed, is to hold the iPhone or look near the doorknob. When you place your iPhone in your smartphone tray, you can turn on the engine.
There is no mention of how you turn on the engine from your watch, but I guess pointing out that you want to place the phone in the tray is to prevent other people from leaving with their iPhones in hand.
You see, Apple thinks of everything.
The ability to calculate the percentage of the key with up to five friends is a pretty good extra.
Oh, and if you have an iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max, you can activate Express mode, apparently, which means you can leave your phone in your pocket to unlock the door, even though I am the same smartphone the tray rule will be applied to engine startup.”
So when can we expect it?
The fact that BMW has stated that it must be had in some cars from a now-replaced date indicates that it will arrive very soon, as does the fact that the company has accessed it in its current application update.
So, all we’re waiting for now, apart from an auto dealership, is iOS 13.6.
I’d say he’s going to be with us in a minute now. If not before the long weekend, wait just after.
As soon as he’s here, I’ll report.
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