Gadgetory

can your smartphone replace your car key Volvo thinks yes we're taking a look at it phone as key app here at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona so the way the app works is it uses a Bluetooth connection with the car so that when you're nearby the car automatically unlocks now Volvo says that there are three main advantages to having a phone handle your car keys responsibilities the first is personal convenience it's just one fewer thing that you have to carry around with you you can leave the car keys at home the second is that you can share access to your car so for example if you're in another country and your car is back home and someone else in your family wants to use it you can grant them access on their smartphone so that they can get into the car the third could be to hire and unlock a rental vehicle so you can see here we're using the app this is just a demo of course but you can go to these screens find the car you're looking for pirate and that car is yours to use if you're loaning someone access to the car then you can set the end time for that access and they can also virtually return the key to you now obviously if you're watching this you might be immediately having some security worries like what if someone steals your phone will they then be able to get access to your car without your permission that's a valid concern I suppose one thing you have to weigh it against is how secure a car key is at least if someone steals your phone then you can disable access via the app you will also of course have to make sure that your phone stays charged you wouldn't want to be traveling home from work at the end of the day having left your car keys at home and your phones died you might be looking up bus timetables on a friend's phone in that situation over Volvo's keen to point out that this isn't going to replace car keys in the near future it's just a nice little extra so this system is going to get a pilot scheme in the spring let me know what you think obviously we're putting loads more information on our smart phones is that a sensible use of great technology or are there potential hazards ahead that we might not have foreseen let me know and check out cnet.com slash