BMW SmartKey

Convergence is the name of the game these days. Mobile phones with cameras, video and music players and even internet browsers are pretty much commonplace today. Multi-function devices like these really make life easier by integrating essential technologies in one single device. BMW has just shown off its smart key concept that seeks to incorporate life's much needed convenience, plastic money, with another rather vital everyday item, the car keys. Embedded with an RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip, this smart key holds personal data such as credit card information and allows for contactless transactions via short-range radio receivers. One really practical application of this concept could be paying highway toll. The driver wouldn't need to spend time pulling his wallet out of his pocket or even stop at the toll booth for that matter. Simply drive through at an even pace and the scanner located at the booth reads the radio signal from your key and deducts the necessary amount from your credit card account. Mundane tasks such as paying for petrol or your groceries would be a breeze as well!

BMW's smart key need not even be limited to monetary transactions as it could store electronic tickets for bus, train or air travel. While renting a car when out of town, the rental company need not issue a car key. It could just download access codes for the car on your personalized smart key, and erase them when the car is returned. And what's more, your key could carry all the personal information you need on the move. So when you get into the rented car, the in-car phone would be able to dial any of the numbers from your electronic address book, while the radio would automatically tune-in to the bookmarked radio stations stored on your key. The smart key could also hold information about the driver's personal subscriptions and content providers and would give the driver authorized online access to his or her personalized ConnectedDrive services inside a BMW vehicle.

The Bavarian auto manufacturer hopes that such a system would link a specific key to a specific driver rather than to a specific car. Prof. Raymond Freymann, Director of BMW Group Research and Technology commented on the same, saying "With the concept of integrating a cashless payment function into a car key, we are working on ways of linking up vehicle technology and lifestyle".Convenient as this smart key system might be, losing one's car keys in the future could have potentially disastrous consequences. But then again, with an RFID chip inside the key, a small "key-locater" would be a rather handy accessory BMW could sell.