Apple To Introduce Feature That Will Turn Your iPhone Into Your Car Key; Car Thieves Around The World Rejoice

Wire

Apple To Introduce Feature That Will Turn Your iPhone Into Your Car Key; Car Thieves Around The World Rejoice

In this day and age, you rarely find a smartphone that is.. well, just a smartphone. Devices these days don’t just connect you with other people, it also connects you with the things around you. Apple are taking this connectivity to a whole new level with its iOS 13.4 update.

The company recently launched the beta version if its iOS 13.4 version and according to 9to5Mac, one of the cool new features that’ll be coming along with it will allow you to use your iPhone as a car key.

Apparently, the beta version contains references to a “CarKey” API that will essentially make it possible for you to use your iPhone and Apple Watch to not only start your car, but also lock and unlock the vehicle. As crazy as the feature sounds, with some cars these days being NFC compatible, it makes sense.

All you’ll have to do is hold your device near the vehicle to use it as a key and because you won’t have to authenticate anything with Face ID, you’ll be able to use the feature with Apple Watch as well, regardless of whether or not your devices run out of battery. If you’re worried about security however, this “express mode” can be turned off.

Apple’s Wallet app and the car manufacturer’s app will be required to pair your device to your car. One suggestion from 9To5Mac is to place your iPhone on top of the NFC reader in your car when you’re setting it up for the first time to make CarKey available in the Wallet app, thus also enabling it to be added to your Apple Watch.

There will also be the option to manually the key on Wallet using a PIN code and the option to share your key with other people via invite through Wallet, enabling them to have the key on their own Apple products.

How Apple’s upcoming feature is received will no doubt pave the way for other smartphone companies to implement (copy) a similar concept on their own devices. On the one hand, you’ll never have to worry about not being able to find your car keys again. On the other hand though, all a car thief needs now is your phone and they’re good to go. What do you guys think? Is this the way to go moving forward or is this just another gimmick to turn heads. Let us know in the comments!