BMW has updated its Digital Key service to make it easier to share keys between iPhone and Android devices.
In the past, the BMW Digital Key could only be shared through Apple iMessage but now, it can be passed on to friends or family through the ‘share’ function used by many apps, such as WhatsApp. It can also be sent by email or SMS and the recipient doesn’t need to have a specific app or a BMW ID to use it.
Additionally, the digital key can be shared via Apple AirDrop or Android Nearby Share if the owner and recipient are standing next to each other. Cross-platform sharing will initially only be available for Apple and Google smartphones but Samsung models will be added in the near future.
This added functionality is available for all new vehicles with the BMW Digital Key and BMW Digital Key Plus. Older models will also gain access to the feature through a software update.
Read: Apple And Android Users Can Now Share Their Digital Car Keys
The announcement of this new functionality to the BMW Digital Key comes just a few days after BMW got the automotive world buzzing with the unveiling of the i Vision Dee concept at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). This concept previews the design and the technologies that will be found in future BMW models underpinned by its forthcoming Neue Klasse electric architecture.
Beyond the simple yet retro design, the i Vision Dee is intriguing because of the advanced E Ink technology that adorns its exterior and is fully variable, meaning the color can be changed or various different colors can be shown at the same time to create an intriguing pattern.