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How phone app that unlocks your car could leave you stranded on the roadside

Smart phone technology lets you unlock your car via an app - but do we really need it?

CAR tech is getting more advanced in a bid to make drivers' lives as easy as possible.

But as is the case with all developing technology, flashy features don't always work as they should, and occasionally end up causing more irritation than convenience.

 New tech lets you unlock your car using a phone app
New tech lets you unlock your car using a phone app

The latter could be the case if we all start using our mobile phones as car keys.

At a recent launch for their new P30 smart phone in Paris, Huawei showed off the gadget's compatibility with the Audi Connect Key system.

Using a key signature saved to the phone app, drivers are able to touch their mobile to the door handle to lock and unlock their motor.

Similar to Apple Pay systems, it uses Near Field Communication to transmit a signal to the car that the key is present.

The video above shows how the system should work.

And while it seems pretty ingenious, it's not always that simple.

An unlucky attendant was left red-faced when the technology failed to unlock the demonstration car.

Despite trying numerous times and shifting the position of the phone on the handle, the Connect Key just didn't want to play ball.

Watch the blunder in the video below.

Of course, all technology has teething problems, but it certainly raises the question as to whether we actually need this for our vehicles.

Sure, it means you don't have to carry your car key around with you, but what happens if your phone dies and you don't have a charger at hand?

Or you've just darted through the rain to get to your motor, only to find the smart phone app won't unlock it?

And, worst case scenario, you lose your phone, leaving you stranded on the roadside.

When compared with all the possible issues, carrying a small key in your pocket doesn't seem so bad after all.

Audi isn't the only manufacturer linking car keys to smart phones.

The Tesla Model 3 offers a similar feature, while BMW, Hyundai and Volkswagen have all expressed interest in the tech.