Google Wallet to allow users to share digital car keys: Availability, importance and more – Times of India

Google has recently announced several new features for multiple devices including Android smartphones, Wear OS smartwatches, Google TV and more. Apart from these devices, Google has also upgraded some of its native apps and services. Amongst these, Android’s Google Wallet app has also received a new feature that will help users to share digital car keys with other people. At Google I/O 2021, the company announced that it was working on a feature that will allow users to unlock their vehicle with a digital car key, stored in their Android device’s wallet app for the first time. Now, the tech giant has made this feature official for US customers.
Digital car keys sharing: Availability
The digital car key-sharing ability is currently available only for US users. This feature is available on some select devices including — Google’s Pixel 6 and 7 series and Samsung’s Galaxy S21 and S22 lineups and will only support limited car models.
However, Google states that the feature will be added soon to more devices running Android versions 12 and above. This means that more Pixel devices as well as handsets from a few other brands might also get the feature soon. More phone manufacturing companies are expected to adopt this tech in the upcoming days.

Digital car keys sharing: How it works
Digital car keys are the digital version of the physical keys that unlocks your vehicle. These keys enable users to unlock their vehicles with a simple tap on their phone. Digital keys can also be used to turn on the car’s ignition. However, to do this, users need to be within the device’s NFC range. These digital car keys can be stored in your Google Wallet app and users can now also share them with others.
Vehicle owners will also be able to control others’ access to their cars at any given time through their “phone’s digital wallet app.” This means that the key-sharing options in Google Wallet will also allow users to revoke access to anyone at any time.
Digital car keys sharing: Importance
This new technology has the potential to completely replace physical car keys in the upcoming days. The new car key sharing feature can come in handy during situations when a friend or family member needs access to the user’s vehicle.
With this technology, Android users will be able to hand over a digital copy of that key. However, it is important to note that the person with whom they share the digital car key copy needs to have a Pixel (or Samsung) device running Android 12 and above or an iPhone.