Update: This feature is now available in some countries, but only if you are the owner of a compatible BMW with a Pixel 6, Pixel 6 Pro, or Samsung Galaxy S21

If Google has anything to say about it, you will soon be able to unlock your car You won't need anything other than an Android device At its annual developer conference, Google I/O, Google announced a number of new Android features aimed at improving connectivity with cars Chief among them is Android 12's Digital Car Key, which will support BMW and other upcoming models

That's right, you will be able to lock and unlock your car, start it remotely, and even lend your digital key to a friend or family member who is borrowing your car How stylish

Like several other things we're seeing these days, the digital car key will use ultra-wideband (UWB) technology to communicate with your car In fact, you may not even need to take your phone out of your pocket to enjoy the benefits of this newfound Android 12 feature

If your car has an NFC-enabled lock, you can tap your phone to the reader to unlock the car Also, if someone is borrowing your car, you can temporarily lend them your digital key

Digital car keys will only be available on the Pixel and some Galaxy devices for now Few will be eager to try this feature, but only a small percentage will have access to it anytime soon And call me paranoid, but the whole thing makes me a little nervous At the very least, they should be able to have a spare fob in case their phone breaks or otherwise becomes inoperable

Digital keys are not Google's only focus on connectivity The company has also introduced Bluetooth Fast Pair for more devices, which will allow you to pair your phone to even more devices with one tap This includes Beats headphones as well as certain car models

Supported automakers include BMW and Ford for Google's Bluetooth Fair Pair feature without having to bother with menus and confirmation dialogs All of these add to the vast list of Fast Pair-enabled devices that you can enjoy

This is just a small part of what Google announced at I/O There is still much more to know, so stay tuned for more information