[Mani59]

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A new version of the digital key coming to BMW iX for users of the Apple iPhone only.

As one of the pioneers in the use of a smartphone as a digital vehicle key since 2018, BMW is pressing ahead with the development and popularisation of its BMW Digital Key feature, which is available to iPhone users today. In line with this goal, the premium car manufacturer will introduce the BMW Digital Key Plus, a convenient and secure way to unlock and start your car without taking your iPhone out of your bag or pocket. This latest incarnation of the service is based on Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, the technology found on the U1 chip of iPhone. The BMW Digital Key Plus feature will be first launched with the all-electric BMW iX for iPhone.

Ultra-Wideband technology for enhanced convenience and security.
The new, additional features enabled by the BMW Digital Key Plus are based on Ultra-Wideband technology. This is a short-range, high-bandwidth digital radio technology that is characterized by an exceptionally precise localization with the greatest possible security. UWB’s precision also ensures that relay attacks, where the radio signal is jammed or intercepted, are not possible. Apple and BMW have been working closely with the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) to establish the Digital Key specification 3.0 for UWB, providing a global standard for the automotive industry.

Source: https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/globa...-to-the-bmw-ix

[spuntyb]

Question is when does this start to filter down to the rest of the line up? Maybe that was mentioned elsewhere and I missed it?

[Game]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

Question is when does this start to filter down to the rest of the line up? Maybe that was mentioned elsewhere and I missed it?

I didn't read the article, however is it possible there's new hardware involved?

[xlover]

Nothing about expansion to the rest of the model line in the article, just the reference to the iX being the launch vehicle.

Just based on history I would imagine all 2022 cars that can be equip with carkey will be capable... backward compatibility is unlikely. I suppose we will see.

[Ibiza]

Digital Key was 1st announced June 2020 at the Apple WWDC keynote. Now 7 months latter Digital Key Plus? Has to be a software update, as the specs require UWB chip, which the vehicles produced after July 2020 apparently have. Nothing has "popped up" on the Apple forums regarding this recent news.

[xlover]

Originally Posted by Ibiza

Digital Key was 1st announced June 2020 at the Apple WWDC keynote. Now 7 months latter Digital Key Plus? Has to be a software update, as the specs require UWB chip, which the vehicles produced after July 2020 apparently have. Nothing has "popped up" on the Apple forums regarding this recent news.

This particular press release is most likely jumping ahead of the desire to talk about the rest of the lineup. The goal is more aligned with CES going on and the work to brand the iX as a technology leader.

Digital key 3.0 was always where the CCS was headed, where the phone could be used as a fob. On top of the above about getting the word out there around the iX specifically, BMW probably wanted to get out ahead of the rest for the brand as a whole.... I expect more brands to be jumping into 3.0 as well as the android world before this year is out. Every major automotive and smartphone OEM is part of CCS.

[danniexi]

Originally Posted by Ibiza

Digital Key was 1st announced June 2020 at the Apple WWDC keynote. Now 7 months latter Digital Key Plus? Has to be a software update, as the specs require UWB chip, which the vehicles produced after July 2020 apparently have. Nothing has "popped up" on the Apple forums regarding this recent news.

UWB support was briefly mentioned by Federighi at last years WWDC. It would be software update for iPhone 11 and newer, so I suspect it’ll be available either in iOS 15 (or iOS 14.x like they did with iOS 13.6).

[AndroidRobot]

Originally Posted by Ibiza

Digital Key was 1st announced June 2020 at the Apple WWDC keynote. Now 7 months latter Digital Key Plus? Has to be a software update, as the specs require UWB chip, which the vehicles produced after July 2020 apparently have. Nothing has "popped up" on the Apple forums regarding this recent news.

that's not true, I had the digital key with my G05 X5 in January of 2019. Maybe with the iPhone but not as a whole

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by xlover

Nothing about expansion to the rest of the model line in the article, just the reference to the iX being the launch vehicle.

Just based on history I would imagine all 2022 cars that can be equip with carkey will be capable... backward compatibility is unlikely. I suppose we will see.

We shall see how BMW positions it. My understanding was Digital Key on MY2021 cars was basically the same as Digital Key on previous cars that was only supported on Android. The big changes needed for it were coming in V3 of the spec which is appears the iX supports.

If it requires new hardware though BMW may not upgrade the entire line at the same time and may wait for an LCI or platform update. Similar to how they left the MY2020 G30 cars on some odd "iDrive 7 Lite".

[xlover]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

We shall see how BMW positions it. My understanding was Digital Key on MY2021 cars was basically the same as Digital Key on previous cars that was only supported on Android. The big changes needed for it were coming in V3 of the spec which is appears the iX supports.

If it requires new hardware though BMW may not upgrade the entire line at the same time and may wait for an LCI or platform update. Similar to how they left the MY2020 G30 cars on some odd "iDrive 7 Lite".

-Digital key 1.0 was available on android phones (and i believe it still is) but no other manufacturers chose to integrate other than BMW. Apple chose to not implement the 1.0 standard.
-Digital key 2.0 was an upgrade over 1.0 and it appears that only apple actually integrated 2.0 into their phones. BMW made 2.0 available for all 2021 vehicles with the full idrive 7(x3 comes to mind as excluded). 2.0 still requires the phone be physically placed "on" the car either the handle or charging pad
-Digital key 3.0 is the true "holy grail" where the phone will function just like the key fob and can be kept in pocket/purse. Obviously bmw is planning to integrate 3.0 going forward and it is likely most OEMs and phone manufacturers were waiting for this standard as it is the most user friendly and familiar.

Iphones 11pro+ will be compatible with 3.0 as they have correct chipset for 3.0, the real question is will existing 2021 BMWs (and which 2022s) be compatible with 3.0.

lots of good info on this topic here: https://carconnectivity.org/

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by xlover

-Digital key 1.0 was available on android phones (and i believe it still is) but no other manufacturers chose to integrate other than BMW. Apple chose to not implement the 1.0 standard.
-Digital key 2.0 was an upgrade over 1.0 and it appears that only apple actually integrated 2.0 into their phones. BMW made 2.0 available for all 2021 vehicles with the full idrive 7(x3 comes to mind as excluded). 2.0 still requires the phone be physically placed "on" the car either the handle or charging pad
-Digital key 3.0 is the true "holy grail" where the phone will function just like the key fob and can be kept in pocket/purse. Obviously bmw is planning to integrate 3.0 going forward and it is likely most OEMs and phone manufactures were waiting for this standard as it is the most user friendly and familiar.

Iphones 11pro+ will be compatible with 3.0 as they have correct chipset for 3.0, the real question is will existing 2021 BMWs (and which 2022s) be compatible with 3.0.

lots of good info on this topic here: https://carconnectivity.org/

Yeah, I read the bulk of that last year, but didn't read the white papers themselves to see what the underlying difference was between 1.0 and 2.0 that prevented BMW from opening it up to older cars (of if they limited it just to be limiting it). My gut is since they added it to all MY2021 cars with iDrive 7 "Full" is that it was a software only tweak and not a hardware one.

The X3 is excluded due to it still being iDrive 7 "Lite" like the MY2020 5-Series.

Why BMW created that splinter is beyond me, but that's a derailment more than anything, except the reality being that there is no guarantee BMW will bring it to MY2021 cars or even MY2022 cars across all lines at the same time.

[soheil]

This is a stupid question, but what is the difference/benefit of Digital Key vs. a fob? I never have to take out the fob from my pocket (or purse in my wife's case). Is it just one less item to carry?

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by soheil

This is a stupid question, but what is the difference/benefit of Digital Key vs. a fob? I never have to take out the fob from my pocket (or purse in my wife's case). Is it just one less item to carry?

I guess.