Ubiquitousness of cell phones drives possibility.
Everyone has scrambled around the house, searching for keys sat down in some place not remembered. BMW is considering making that harried episode a part of our past by eliminating keys for its vehicles in the future.
The Bavarian automaker may convert the key function to an app that can be loaded onto one’s cell phone since everyone has a cell phone, noted Ian Robertson, the company’s board member responsible for sales.
“Honestly, how many people really need it,” he told Reuters, suggesting technology existed to make it so customers no longer had to put the key in the ignition to make the car start.
“They never take it out of their pocket, so why do I need to carry it around?” Robertson said. “We are looking at whether it is feasible, and whether we can do it. Whether we do it right now or at some point in the future, remains to be seen,” Robertson said.
Robertson didn’t provide details about how the system would work, whether it would need an internet connection or it could use a more localized technology like Bluetooth LE or near-field communications (NFC).
To read more of the original article, go to The Detroit Bureau.
