BMW and NXP’s smart key knows if you’ve been naughty or nice

Well, they’ve gone and done it now. The kind folks over at NXP Semiconductor and BMW decided it a good idea to integrate a car key with a contact-less payment system. The prototype key features NXP’s SmartMX security chip, which is the same exact chip in e-passports. This makes it possible to pay for fuel, tolls and just about anything else just by flashing that fancy key.

Another "benefit" to the key is that it holds all of your personal security information. The press release says this is useful because car rental and other companies can access your information and automatically note your vehicle color preferences, mirror and seat adjustments and even what crappy radio stations you like. Sounds kind of fishy to me. No, not the tech. But, who listens to the radio anymore? Didn’t MP3 players end that noise years ago? I got my eye on you BMW!