Bosch flow app, lock and alarm, is it possible to use Apple Watch as key?

[Alfmeister]

I have an Orbea Wild, with the additional module fitted, which allows the lock and alarm function. In the settings you can use your phone and a Kiok as the key to unlock the bike, but what would be really useful, if you could use an Apple Watch as well, is this possible at all?

 

[RustyIron]

I don't think so. It seems as if the Flow App is only for reading your heart rate. I only use it to confirm that the Flow App is running on my phone. If I can read my heart rate, Flow is recording my ride.

I'm skeptical of the lock function. For some, it might be fine. What concerns me is if I'm miles from my truck, and I crash, smashing the phone. Or maybe the phone battery goes dead. I think that would leave me with a dead bike. It's something to think about.

 

[Alfmeister]

Good morning Rusty,
you have a very good point on getting stranded, if the phone gets damaged or the battery goes flat. I always carry a small battery pack for my phone, just incase, plus I have the Kiok 300 also as a key. It would be nice if they did include the Apple Watch, maybe it’s something Bosch can add in the future.

If a thief is determined to steal your bike, these electronic devices will be useles. What it does do, is make the casual theft slightly more difficult and frustrating.

 

[DieBoy]

I have an Orbea Wild, with the additional module fitted, which allows the lock and alarm function. In the settings you can use your phone and a Kiok as the key to unlock the bike, but what would be really useful, if you could use an Apple Watch as well, is this possible at all?

This is currently not possible. You can use your phone or a Kiox 300 as a 'key'.

Hypothetically, to be able to use an Apple Watch as an unlock device, Bosch would need to port the Flow app (or a good part of it) to the Watch OS, and I'm not sure that's viable, due to device constraints, etc.

 

[DieBoy]

I'm skeptical of the lock function. For some, it might be fine. What concerns me is if I'm miles from my truck, and I crash, smashing the phone.

I don't think it's intended to be the sole bike security measure. Think of it as "defence in depth", something to be combined with a good lock, coding, etc., and ultimately insurance.

The electronic lock does mean a stolen bike can't simply be sold on as-is, which may be enough to deter casual thieves. It also stops numpties messing around with the settings.

Note you can use multiple phones to unlock the same bike. I've installed the Flow app on my partner's phone using my Bosch account, so I have the possibility to still unlock if my phone dies.