Apple Watch Ultra 2 = PAAK

[George Knighton]

How far does the functionality of FordPass go when installed on a Watch?

With only cellular data, will the Watch start the car without needing a code?

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[avdonr]

How far does the functionality of FordPass go when installed on a Watch?

With only cellular data, will the Watch start the car without needing a code?

No, it wouldn’t work. The most you could do is enable climate and lock/unlock, but not drive.

Like with the phone, you would need to separately pair the watch with the car to get any sort of PaaK functionality. PaaK uses a separate Bluetooth connection from the one that’s used for media/calls and that connection is per device.

 

[Deleted member 19354]

No, it wouldn’t work. The most you could do is enable climate and lock/unlock, but not drive.

Like with the phone, you would need to separately pair the watch with the car to get any sort of PaaK functionality. PaaK uses a separate Bluetooth connection from the one that’s used for media/calls and that connection is per device.

I am certain it’s coming soon?

 

[George Knighton]

Spent a couple of minutes yesterday evening, trying to pair my Watch to the car. It just doesn't work.

I don't know how the Watch appeared to open the car and allow me to start it a few days ago, because it's definitely not paired and won't pair to the Bluetooth signal. This is the signal that you will find has part of your VIN + something like Mach E in the label.

The Watch doesn't even see that signal.

It must have been some kind of fluke, some ideal conditions that allowed the car to find my keys in the house, or my iPhone in the neighbour's house. But in that case, why did the puddle pony light up...I don't think I'll ever figure it out.

 

[George Knighton]

I am certain it’s coming soon?

I wonder why we cannot do it. It'd be a neat thing to just have a cellular Watch that does everything.

When I'm hiking, I leave the iPhone at home and use only the Watch and it's great.

Messaging would be difficult unless we can rely on the Watch reading messages out loud or via the Bluetooth.

 

[TheSeg]

While a member, Ford has not implemented the Car Connectivity Consortium's Digital Key specifications to any vehicle. Apple's implementation is called Apple Car Key, Android's implementation is Digital Car Key, but all are for the same standard.

Instead, Ford made the watchOS app as an extension to the FordPass iOS application. The watchOS app does not even request direct Bluetooth connectivity.

What happens when you hit a command on the watch is the same as hitting the command on FordPass app when out of Bluetooth range. The command is sent to Ford's servers via HTTPS and the car is waiting for the command from the Ford servers. Very inefficient, but that's what they went with. ??‍

 

[generaltso]

I wonder why we cannot do it. It'd be a neat thing to just have a cellular Watch that does everything.

When I'm hiking, I leave the iPhone at home and use only the Watch and it's great.

Messaging would be difficult unless we can rely on the Watch reading messages out loud or via the Bluetooth.

Now that I have experience with native Apple Car Key, I can say that it's worlds better than Ford's implementation of PaaK. The ability to share the digital key with anybody's phone or watch and decide whether you want them to have access to just unlock the car or unlock and drive is a game changer. Hopefully, Ford's next refresh will go in that direction.

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