The Motorola Razr+ and Edge 50 Ultra have become digital dongles for BMW

Smartphones are gradually replacing not only wallets but also keychains. Following on from digital passports and badges, Motorola and BMW have taken a step towards a future where the phone is the only “key” to the car. Owners of the Motorola Razr+ (Razr 50 Ultra) and Edge 50 Ultra can now unlock and start their BMWs via an app using NFC and UWB technologies. Here’s how it works and who it’s good for.

NFC or UWB: two ways to unlock your BMW

For the Motorola Razr+, all you have to do is hold the phone up to your car’s door handle – the built-in NFC chip will transmit the signal like a contactless card. But the Edge 50 Ultra, with UWB (ultra-wideband) support, lets you do without touching: the car will automatically unlock when you get close, just like with a traditional key fob.

The two methods work through the BMW Digital Key system, which was previously only available for iPhone and Samsung. Now Motorola owners have joined the club of “keyless” drivers.

Motorola owners are now joining the keyless club.

How do I connect my smartphone to my BMW?

The process of tethering your smartphone to your car is simple and takes a few minutes. First, make sure both physical BMW keys are in the passenger compartment – this is to confirm access rights. Then open the My BMW app, go to the Digital Key section and follow the on-screen prompts. Once synchronized, the system will send a notification of successful activation to both the app and the car’s multimedia dashboard. An added bonus – the Digital Key can be instantly shared with other users through the app, which is convenient for family or friends who temporarily need access to the car. All of this makes the process not only quick, but also flexible to use.

All of this makes the process not only fast, but flexible to use.

Security and Perspective

BMW uses multi-layered security: key data is encrypted and authorization requires biometrics or a PIN. Even if the phone runs out of battery, the NFC chip will retain access to the car for 24 hours.

BMW uses multiple layers of security: the key data is encrypted and authorization requires biometrics or a PIN.

For now, the feature is only available for premium BMW models released after 2021, but the trend is clear: digital keys are slowly becoming no longer exclusive. The next step is integration with budget cars and other brands.

The next step is integration with budget cars and other brands.

The Motorola Razr+ and Edge 50 Ultra become digital dongles for BMW was first published on ITZine.ru.