Recently, Apple seeds the beta version of iOS 13.4, which comes with some interesting features. One of the features not explicitly stated but discovered in the codes is the CarKey feature. Here is what we know so far about this interesting feature that iPhone users could soon enjoy.
What Is CarKey?
Based on a recent report by 9to5Mac, it appears that Apple is preparing for another exciting feature for iPhone users. The upcoming feature, known as CarKey, enables users to unlock their vehicles using their iPhone. It seems that its functionality is similar to Express Transit, which Apple introduced last year.
The only difference is that Express Transit allows users to use their iPhone as a public transit's pass. When Apple seeded the beta or developer version of the iOS 13.4 build yesterday, 9to5mac discovered references of the feature. Based on the discovery of the software's internal files, CarKey would transform an iPhone or an Apple Watch into a digital key that could unlock cars that are NFC-enabled.
How Do You Setup CarKey?
Based on the report, Carkey's initial setup includes placing the iPhone on the NFC reader of the vehicle. The process may take several minutes to finish, according to the strings. After that, users need to key in the pairing code, which could be taken from the local car dealership. Users could also link the app of the vehicle to the upcoming iPhone feature, adds the report. On top of that, CarKey could be shared with other family members.
Similar CarKey Offerings
The Cupertino company is not the first or the only company that is looking into the elimination of the car key. But, the upcoming feature is a good indicator of the company's plan on widening the functionality and usability of the iPhone. Several carmakers offer apps or software that allows users to convert their smartphones into digital car keys; however, these have some limitations.
Hyundai has this offering, but it is only limited to Android smartphones and only works on Hyundai Sonata 2020. We are hoping that Apple's CarKey would exceed these limitations. For this feature to be widely available, the Cupertino company might need to distribute the software to automakers so they could integrate it on their apps or software.
It is worth mentioning that these details are discovered on the internal files of the iOS 13.4 beta version. Thus, there is no guarantee that the CarKey feature would soon roll out to users when the software builds finally becomes available.
