AllYouCanTech

**Apple’s Engagement in the Car Connectivity Consortium’s Plugfest Event**

Apple is actively participating in a week-long event hosted by the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) designed to assess the practical performance of the digital key standard, which supports its Car Key feature. This effort is part of a larger initiative to improve vehicle access technology, facilitating smooth integration between smart devices and automobiles.

### Summary of the Plugfest Event

The Plugfest event unites prominent automotive manufacturers and technology firms to perform interoperability testing of the CCC Digital Key, a worldwide standard for secure, smart device-based vehicle entry. Key participants include significant automakers such as BMW, General Motors, Hyundai, Mercedes, Rivian, and Volkswagen, as well as tech leaders like Google and Motorola Mobility.

This year’s evaluations concentrate on version 4 of the digital key standard while also reviewing compatibility with version 3. The CCC noted that last year, 115 vehicles and products received certification, demonstrating an increasing adoption of this technology within the industry.

### Significance of Digital Keys

The CCC asserts that the automotive sector has achieved a critical mass concerning digital keys, anticipating that 2025 will signify a major milestone as these technologies progress from early innovations to standard expectations among consumers. According to the CCC’s 2025 Future of Vehicle Connectivity Report, 97% of its member companies regard vehicle access as extremely or very important to their business, emphasizing the rising demand for consistent and interoperable digital key experiences.

### Testing Focus Areas

The testing at the Plugfest covers various crucial areas, including security, privacy, and reliability. A key aspect of the event is the assessment of passive entry systems, which enable compatible vehicles to unlock automatically as a user approaches with their iPhone or Apple Watch using the Car Key feature. This capability seeks to improve user convenience and security, facilitating smoother vehicle access.

### Final Thoughts

Apple’s participation in the CCC’s Plugfest highlights its dedication to advancing digital key technology and ensuring interoperability across different platforms and devices. As the automotive industry progresses, the demand for secure and effective vehicle access solutions becomes increasingly essential, paving the way for a future in which digital keys are a fundamental component of the driving experience.

Apple has recently announced its collaboration with Google’s Gemini to boost the functionalities of Siri and various AI features. This partnership signifies a major change in Apple’s stance on artificial intelligence, shifting from crafting its own AI models to utilizing Google’s superior technologies.

The declaration was strategically communicated via CNBC’s “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer, highlighting a priority on investors rather than on consumers. This move comes in response to increasing demands for Apple to enhance its AI capabilities, particularly following previous setbacks in delivering expected functionalities for Siri.

The inclusion of Google Gemini into Siri is perceived as a beneficial advancement for Apple users. By adopting Google’s AI models, Apple plans to deliver improved features while upholding its strict privacy policies. The alliance permits Apple to execute AI tasks on its devices and Private Cloud Compute, guaranteeing that user information remains protected.

Crucially, the arrangement does not limit Apple from creating its own AI models in the future. The multi-year agreement offers flexibility, empowering Apple to transition to its own technologies if it outperforms Google’s capabilities in particular domains.

This collaboration is anticipated to bring substantial enhancements to Siri, addressing previous critiques about its effectiveness. With both Apple and Google committed to the success of this partnership, there is hope that new features will be introduced shortly, improving the overall user experience.

In conclusion, the collaboration between Apple and Google’s Gemini signifies a strategic maneuver to strengthen Siri’s functionalities while maintaining Apple’s dedication to user privacy. This development is expected to advantage both users and investors, as it positions Apple to more effectively compete in the swiftly changing AI arena.

### Apple @ Work: Insights from Weldon Dodd on Kandji’s Evolution to Iru

In the sector of enterprise technology, the incorporation and management of Apple devices have become ever more essential. Mosyle, a prominent supplier of Apple Unified Platform solutions, holds a vital position in this domain by providing a comprehensive array of tools aimed at deploying, managing, and safeguarding Apple devices effortlessly. With more than 45,000 organizations depending on Mosyle, it is clear that their strategy for making Apple devices operational is both efficient and cost-effective.

In a recent episode of the Apple @ Work podcast, host [Weldon Dodd](https://www.linkedin.com/in/weldondodd/) examined the evolution of Kandji into Iru. This transition signifies a notable advancement in the company’s services and reflects the continuous progress in Apple device management. Dodd offered his perspectives on what he expects from Apple in the year ahead, alongside the “dream” features that IT administrators yearn to see brought to fruition.

The dialogue explores the hurdles and prospects that IT teams encounter when overseeing Apple devices in a corporate setting. As businesses persist in embracing Apple technology, the demand for strong management solutions becomes vital. Dodd’s insights illuminate the significance of innovation and flexibility in fulfilling the requirements of contemporary workplaces.

For those keen on delving deeper into the full conversation, the episode includes an audio segment that can be accessed [here](https://9to5mac.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2026/01/Iru-leveled.mp3).

### Key Takeaways from the Episode

– **Kandji’s Evolution to Iru**: Grasping the ramifications of this transition for IT management and device deployment.
– **Anticipated Innovations from Apple**: Insights into which features and enhancements IT administrators are eager for.
– **Ideal Features for IT Admins**: A discussion on the perfect functionalities that could improve the management of Apple devices in the workplace.

### Additional Resources

For those looking to further investigate the domain of Apple device management, previous episodes of the Apple @ Work podcast are available for listening and subscription. This ongoing series delivers invaluable insights into the latest trends, tools, and strategies for effectively managing Apple technology in professional environments.

For more details on Mosyle and to request an extended trial, visit their website [here](https://mosyle.net/3RDn).

Apple is poised to improve its messaging features by bringing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) to Rich Communication Services (RCS) messages, in line with the GSM Association’s standardization of this option. This was announced in March, and the latest beta updates suggest that Apple is advancing towards the deployment of this capability.

The most recent iOS 26.3 beta 2 has uncovered a new carrier bundle option permitting mobile carriers to toggle E2EE for RCS messages on or off. Impressively, this option has been spotted exclusively with the four main French carriers: Bouygues, Orange, SFR, and Free, indicating a localized testing or rollout effort.

As per the GSMA’s guidelines, RCS clients must have E2EE enabled by default, although this can be subject to local laws. The regulations state that E2EE should be accessible to all users in a given market, and if it is not, users must be notified of its absence. Furthermore, when E2EE is enabled, users ought to be able to view the encryption status of their messages.

Although the inclusion of this code in the beta version does not assure that E2EE will debut with iOS 26.3, it suggests that Apple is gearing up for its eventual release. The rollout of E2EE for RCS messaging would greatly bolster user privacy and security, aligning with rising expectations for enhanced secure communication methods in the digital era.