The new W213 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has the ability to use a smartphone with NFC technology as a key, so you don’t have to carry an extra key in your pocket.
NFC is short for Near Field Communication. It is a wireless communication system that allows two devices to talk within about two inches of each other. We had Mercedes-Benz’s digital key and anti-theft protection expert Edis Ceric demonstrate the system to us at the international press drive in Lisbon that we attended recently. Watch the video above to see it in action.
Mercedes-Benz developed the Digital Car Key feature using Samsung Android smartphones, but any Android smartphone with NFC should work. You will need an account with the Mercedes me service for it to work, as well as an NFC-capable smartphone. Your smartphone has to be registered with the Mercedes me service.
Locking and unlocking the car is as simple as placing your phone near the driver’s side door handle. You have to place your phone inside the Qi wireless charger to start the car as that is where the NFC receiver is located. Of course, if your phone supports Qi wireless charging, your phone will begin to charge as well.
The best part is a single phone can be used as a digital key for multiple cars, and a number of phones can be programmed to a single car, an ideal solution for large families or fleet operations.
While certain Apple iPhones have NFC technology built in, Apple has locked it down exclusively for use with Apple Pay for the moment, though there are rumours that developer access to NFC might be open sometime in the future. So no luck using this feature if you have an iPhone.
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Hope MB owners don’t get their phones stolen when they travel far away from their homes where they keep the real car keys.
Wake me up when a manufacturer designs a wearable that can function as an e-key.
Mobile phone is a fast moving consumer goods already, with general lifespan of 1-3 years. Good luck the new owner need to change key every few years.
NFC?? I read about this few years back.
Old tech, i use keyless entry summore
For this you carry the key in your pocket. Here you carry nothing but your phone.
Is the same as someone steals your car key. Additionally you need to unlock the phone in order to have NFC (valid for all phones). So your personal security (fingerprint, code, shape, …) is added to the user to unlock the phone.
Apple’s missing out on all of this
What happens if the phone ran out of juice while you’re in the mall?
You dun know powerbank?
Now you have a problem. Tomorrow the NFC card inside runs without phone be unlocked and without battery.
What if I’m making a call and I need to open the door or start the car?
What if my phone ran out of battery?
Gimmicks these are. Key is key. Phone is phone. You don’t shave your mustache with your phone.
Actually no problem if your phone battery is empty: nfc chip can be detected even then. So basically you don’t need to carry both a key and your smartphone. Just great IMHO.
Remember the couple who hack the touchNgo ? Imagine they just steal your merc with their phone with an android apps, hassle free and drive away like a boss !
They to take ur phone first..
Ages ago phone was phone, computer was computer and camera was camera. Go back to your cave.
One day when you can afford an e class, you will still accept and appreciate it. At your current stage, you can only think of all negative things.
Its a good backup plan. If you can safeguard the key no need to worry the stupid “what-if”, no one asked not to use they key dumba$$.
Paul, thanks for this video. Very interesting. Mercedes mentions that this feature will be available as from June in Germany. What about cars that will be ordered and delivered before that date and in other countries than Germany (my case) : are they going to benefit from this service at some point in time ? Or will they miss a specific hardware component? Thanks!
I don’t know why everyone is so worried about the phone being stolen. The same concern applies to the car key right? How is it different?
the difference is if someone steals your phone, they still wont be able to steal your car because your phone is usually protected with fingerprint or pattern lock
Ppl seem to prefer to carry handphone than a car key.
Why we have to rely so much on a phone these days??
Next time, order roti canai via handphone even though you are already sitting at mamak stall? As for dahl top-up with handphone oso??
In 2 weeks someone will demonstrate hacking and unlocking
Interesting but I think I simply prefer current keyless entry.
I think Mercedes should think about making the smartphone an extension of the key itself. Using the smartphone NFC to scan the NFC in the key allows owners to do advance things such as preset timer to wind down window when park under the hot sun for certain period of time.
BlackBerry10 devices also have NFC, so that means BlackBerry and Android devices can lock/unlock and start/stop engine. Not sure about Windows phones. To be honest, I prefer a smart key for keyless entry and start. No need to find your smartphone and tap the handle, especially if you have to run towards the car in the rain. Just leave key in poket, and pull the handle and you’re done.
So if your phone got stolen, you lose your car too?
If your car key got stolen, it’s the same thing…
its not the same. the difference is if someone steals your phone, they still wont be able to steal your car because your phone is usually protected with fingerprint or pattern lock
The phone is no longer just a tool to communicate. It’s your wallet, boarding pass, bank account, social life and now the key to your car. Yep one grab from the snatch thief on his bike and there goes your life and I know many people who lost heir phones or destroyed it by dropping it on the floor and toilet bowls or got wet in the rain. Can’t even get Uber to send you home after that!
you better stick to your recond f30 318. No complaint.
Why do you keep asking the obvious questions?
Can use my old Nokia 3310 ah?
So how will my valets & driver go fetch my car? u mean I have to gip them my phone with my multi-million bank details in it?
i would guess that your driver has to download the MB app to his own phone, then u help him to enter your private unlock password into the app.