First introduced in June of 2020 and available exclusively for iPhone, BMW’s Digital Key has now been updated to work with the Android mobile operating system. The expansion of Digital Key to the Android operating system is the result of close collaboration between BMW, Google, and Samsung, and compatible Android smartphones include the Samsung Galaxy S21 Series, Google Pixel 6, and Pixel 6 Pro.
Digital Key allows drivers to lock and unlock their BMW by holding their phone next to the driver’s door handle. When the phone is placed in the wireless charging compartment, the engine can also be started. Configuration and setup are handled within the My BMW app, and Digital Key is available for almost all BMW models with a production date after July 1 2020. In the future, an update will allow access to be shared among up to five individuals. BMW Digital Key Plus, which will use ultra-wide band, is also said to be in the pipeline for Android devices.
BMW committed itself to developing and establishing global standards for keyless entry systems in 2018 and was the first automaker to market with Digital Key in 2020. With the addition of Android to the compatibility list, BMW is also the first automaker to offer a system for both iOS and Android that adheres to global Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) standards.—Alex Tock
[Photo courtesy BMW AG.]