One firm has revealed...

One firm has revealed it can build a handset that will make car keys a thing of the past.

Nokia has told Auto Express that when the vehicle"s owner approaches the door, the mobile will use wireless technology to unlock it. For increased security, the system could request them to dial in a PIN code first, or an in-phone camera might be used for a face recognition check. The car would start with the phone in the driver"s pocket.

"There would be no problem introducing this technology as it is straightforward," said Nokia spokesman Uwe Pertz. "But we"ll only do it if the car makers are eager. They are reluctant to give up control of areas such as security. I believe we"ll see it on a concept at a show first, before it becomes available."

Peugeot has already revealed how the technology could work. Its Quark concept, which was revealed at October"s Paris Motor Show, doesn"t have a key. Instead, the machine is started with a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

The man who is co-ordinating the development and launch of the new Ford Focus, Giuseppe Caiazza, is enthusiastic about the prospect of a mobile being used as a car key. "We are proposing a keyless option on the Focus," he told us, "although it won"t be done with a phone at the moment.

But in the future, why not?" Nokia is deliberately targeting cars to boost its sales. It has agreed deals in the past month with Land Rover, Nissan and Ford to offer integrated hands-free systems as options.

Now it wants to use its expertise in telecommunications to grab a share of the in-car entertainment, satellite-navigation and information business.

In the Bond film, gadget man Q designed 007"s Ericsson mobile to control the car, reinflate tyres, launch missiles and deliver a 20,000-volt electric shock. However, Nokia says its mobiles will not have the same capabilities.