Already, drivers of cars with engine-start push buttons require nothing more than a Bluetooth key fob – no actual key is required. Volvo, however, is taking things a step farther. Beginning this spring (Northern Hemisphere), some Volvo drivers will need nothing more than their smartphone to use their car.
The new Volvo app reportedly allows drivers to do all the same things as a traditional key, such as unlocking the doors and starting the engine. In fact, drivers don't even need to operate their smartphone to unlock their car, as the distinct Bluetooth signal from their phone will do so automatically as they approach the vehicle.
Additionally, one phone can contain "digital keys" to multiple Volvos. This means that one person could access numerous cars in a fleet, for instance, or they could more easily pick up a rental Volvo to which they had already been sent a key – that digital key would expire after the rental period was over.
As is already the case with various electronic bike locks, users could also lend their car to other people, by sending them digital keys. Those keys can be designated for a single use or for use only at given times, if required.
The technology will be trialled this spring at Volvo's Sunfleet car-sharing service, located at Gothenburg airport. It should subsequently begin showing up in some commercially-available cars starting next year – physical keys will still also be offered for those vehicles.
Source: Volvo
UPDATE (Feb. 23/16): We were able to see the new system in person at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. A Volvo rep walked us through the new app – adding cars (like one-off rentals) and sharing access with friends worked almost instantly, while pairing with a new car took about as long as Bluetooth pairing normally does (a few seconds).
Once a car is added and stored, getting into your vehicle and driving off works just as it does with existing keyless fobs. Provided your phone is in your pocket (even locked and on standby), you can open your car door, climb in and drive off without a second thought.
It's one less thing to forget in the mornings.
But there goes the Luddites again. The old 'lost phone' or 'dead phone' excuse. It's like the people who 100+ years ago said 'The problem with cars are that you could run out of gasoline. You can never run out of 'horse'.' Yeah, horses died too. And they got sick. And they got injured or stolen or ran away.
In this case the phone is just another 'key'. No different from what you have now, and if anything, more convenient because 1 less thing (your car key) to worry about. It has different constraints, but obvious benefits. People have their phones with them 24/7. You only need your car keys when you drive. And you don't know how many people lose or forget their car keys because people are not so obsessed by it. Everyone has to post about losing their phone though. So more people could be losing car keys than phones.
Also, cue all the crackers and phreaks trying to hack into said system for fun and profit.
Maybe if you live in a low crime area? Maybe somewhere other than the US.
And hackers, oh they would love to make their phone open your car, using a bit of malware. "But officer, I thought it was my car, my phone opened it."