With the rise of intelligent vehicles and the Internet of Everything, in-car interaction experiences and digital mobility convenience have become core priorities for industry development. Against this backdrop, the Carlink protocol and Digital Key standard led by ICCOA (Intelligent Connected Open Alliance) – through deep insights into user needs and continuous industry collaboration – are gradually emerging as crucial connectors bridging smartphones and automobiles, reshaping the mobility experience.
1. Development of ICCOA Carlink Protocol
The evolution of the ICCOA CarLink protocol features three distinct phases: The original 1.0 version introduced a standalone Launcher overlay on the car's screen, commonly known as "screen domination". In response to automakers' requests for seamless integration between mobile and in-car applications, the 1.5 version introduced a unified interface that allowed both platforms to coexist. To address ecosystem compatibility challenges, the 1.6 version enhanced this by introducing app windows, enabling users to freely zoom, scale, or drag content. Key upgrades included cross-screen adaptation for various resolutions, a fresh UI design, and AI-powered navigation flow enhancements. The 1.5 version further integrated mobile apps with in-car native apps through folder-style layouts. The 1.6 version addressed ecosystem compatibility issues, expanding smart experience accessibility while introducing direct display of mobile screens with intuitive controls and richer ecosystem support. The 2.0 version ultimately enabled seamless integration of mobile interfaces into the car, delivering more intuitive operations and expanded ecosystem integration.
2. Supported mobile phone brands
Currently, multiple smartphone brands (OPPO, vivo, Xiaomi, OnePlus, realme, iQOO, REDMI, Meizu) have integrated Carlink protocol support across 600 million devices. Samsung will officially launch Carlink support in February 2025. In the automotive sector, over 100 models have adopted Carlink technology, achieving a coverage of 5 million vehicles. Additionally, more than 30 car brands are currently rolling out full Carlink integration across their entire product lines, covering over 100 new and existing vehicle models.
3. ICCOA digital car key
The ICCOA digital key standard has evolved from DK 1.0 to DK 2.0, featuring Bluetooth-based wireless technology with enhanced NFC-enabled car keys and remote unlocking capabilities. It now supports smartwatch integration, OEM account binding, and remote vehicle control, streamlining certificate management and key sharing processes while boosting development efficiency. Regarding ICCOA implementation progress, Xiaomi and vivo have launched support for NFC-equipped devices: Xiaomi phones with NFC-enabled models within three years and some models within five years are compatible with ICCOA. vivo also supports NFC-equipped devices, with more models to follow through system upgrades. Users can unlock and lock their vehicles automatically using a smartphone without physical keys, phone access, or internet connectivity. Leveraging the underlying smartphone system capabilities, ICCOA significantly improves Bluetooth key stability and reduces technical failures caused by app shutdowns. ICCOA DK3.0 incorporates broader requirements, fully backward-compatible with DK2.0, while adding UWB support, standardized remote control solutions, and non-CA mode key sharing.
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