Tossing your keys to a friend grows more complicated when you no longer have physical keys to pass. But that may be temporary.
Now, iPhone users can share their digital keys with owners of Google Pixel phones.
Related: Cars That Use Digital Keys
Since 2020, owners of some BMW, Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia vehicles have been able to use smartphones as digital keys. It’s not quite like Tesla’s proximity-based locks – most users still have to bring the phone quite close to the driver’s side door to unlock it. But with some more recent phones with ultra-wideband technology, just approaching the car with your phone in your pocket is enough to unlock it.
Convenient. But, until now, you could only share your keys with other users of the same phone platform.
Related: Hackers Show How to Unlock, Start Cars Remotely
Apple and Google have now solved that problem. iPhone users and Google Pixel users can now pass digital keys to one another through text messages, WhatsApp, or email. Owners can decide whether to require an activation code and revoke access by tapping Stop Sharing in the Wallet app.
Android users are still outside that circle for now, but Apple says it’s also working on expanding key sharing to Android.
