Opening your car using your mobile phone should now be safer

Using the start button for many years in cars This was the first great revolution in mobility, as the classic starter key was replaced in older cars.

And also, for some time now, a new revolution has been tested in unlocking vehicles, using cell phones using digital keys.

A technology that is becoming widespread in countries such as the US, but like any process of change and adaptation, it still does not provide users with the required level of security.

To change this situation, the Connectivity Consortium (CCC) is an industry group that includes most of the major car companies such as Ford, GM, BMW, Honda, Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz, as well as phone makers such as Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi. , announced a new certification program for digital keys using near field communication (NFC). Phones equipped NFC To unlock them, you need to touch them on the car door handle rather than using a key or key fob.

What changes are proposed for digital keys?

CCC’s digital key certification aims to ensure “global interoperability of products and services for seamless interoperability… regardless of vehicle or device,” the group says. This way, consumers can be confident that the technology will always work, even when they upgrade to new phones or new cars.

Vehicle and device manufacturers test their CCC products to ensure they meet all safety, security and compatibility criteria. If they pass the test, they will receive a certificate and the group’s logo can be used in marketing materials to reassure consumers that the device meets all CCC digital key standards.

“CCC digital key certification is the critical piece we need to make a universal standard possible,” Glen Stone, CTO of the Vehicular Connectivity Consortium, said in a statement. “The certification not only builds confidence in the CCC Digital Key product, but also confirms that the product will work seamlessly with other CCC Digital Key solutions in the ecosystem.”

The idea for the future is also to use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, where users do not need to touch to unlock and can use their devices from a greater distance. This means you can keep your phone in your pocket to unlock and start your car, like some modern key fobs and access cards.