Yes.
There is an app for that.
It is flippin’ genius.
Here’s how it works.
It’s 7am and you’ve just been woken up by some gentle harp strumming from your iPhone.
You have a look at your email.
You check out Twitter.
You put your iPhone down and you head off for a shower then get dressed.
[You live somewhere crazily cold — somewhere in Mid-America, right?]
You look outside and see it’s a gloomy, ‘orrible, flippin’ cold day.
As you put your bread in the toaster, you reach for your iPhone and bring up Viper SmartStart.
Here’s what the app looks like:
Yup. It’s connected to your car.
COME ON.
You tap the START button on the application.
Outside you can hear the roar of your Range Rover as it starts up, gently humming.
You butter your toast and have a look at the news on the Telegraph iPhone app.
You pick up your briefcase, iPhone and car keys (just.. you know, for the fun of it) and you head out to the car.
Your car, having been humming away for 5 minutes, is beautifully warm, de-iced and ready to rock.
You smile.
Love it.
Absolutely LOVE it.
You can, as you’ll have seen from the app itself, control the trunk (or ‘boot’ as we say in the UK), along with the car’s central locking (LOVE IT!) and the always-useful panic mode.
And of course, you can control *multiple* cars from one iPhone.
All you need is a car that has a compatible ‘remote start’ function. If you’ve got that, then you need to pony up $299 for the extra module and — bish bash bosh — you’ll be able to control your car from your iPhone with the free app.
If, like me, you don’t have remote start on your car, then you’ll need to get the $499 option. Fair enough.
You’ll also have to pay the $29.99/year service charge (the first year is included in both options).
You’ll probably also want to get somebody to professionally install the system.
If you’re in the States, pop over to your local Best Buy for more details.
And if you’re not in the States… tough. Although I’m sure this will go international shortly.
Check out the site for more details: http://www.viper.com/SmartStart/
I think this has shot straight into my top ten brilliant iPhone applications.
Provided you’re in the mood for a very ‘American’ introductory video, check out the Viper SmartStart product video here (“iPhone… check!!!”):
Cheesiness aside, this is brilliant. Just brilliant.
So suddenly being practical for a minute, do you think that these guys will make money / fame / success with this app?
RT @patphelan: Start your car with your iPhone thanks to Viper SmartStart http://j.mp/4lPdvV #iphoneapp
Start your car with your iPhone thanks to Viper SmartStart http://j.mp/4lPdvV (via @patphelan) What next!
Impressive RT @maddog_dave: Start your car with your iPhone thanks to Viper SmartStart http://j.mp/4lPdvV (via @patphelan) What next!
RT @patphelan Start your car with your iPhone thanks to Viper SmartStart http://j.mp/4lPdvV – Think this is great!
@ian_kenefick thanks http://j.mp/4lPdvV
Start your car with your iPhone thanks to Viper SmartStart http://bit.ly/1DPsC9 @Ew4n
Very cool iPhone app starts your car for you, need a range rover (bummer) and not very eco friendly – but cool http://tinyurl.com/yfbz28h
Start your car with your iPhone thanks to Viper SmartStart …: So suddenly being practical for a minute, do yo.. http://bit.ly/ews9T
Start your car with your iPhone thanks to Viper SmartStart …: So suddenly being practical for a minute, do yo.. http://bit.ly/ews9T
RT @patphelan: Start your car with your iPhone thanks to Viper SmartStart http://j.mp/4lPdvV #iphoneapp (via @nigelwalsh)
RT @patphelan: Start your car with your iPhone thanks to Viper SmartStart http://j.mp/4lPdvV #iphoneapp
Start your car with your iPhone thanks to Viper SmartStart http://j.mp/4lPdvV (via @patphelan) What next!
Impressive RT @maddog_dave: Start your car with your iPhone thanks to Viper SmartStart http://j.mp/4lPdvV (via @patphelan) What next!
I think there are legions of mid-western Americans waiting for it!
These have been available for decades in the US – albeit with a keyfob button rather than an iPhone app. I would have thought it takes longer to find the app, start it and select start then just hold down the keyfob button for 2 seconds.
Now if you could go the whole James bond and use the phone to remotely drive your car around to your doorstep – then we're talking!
Remote start isn't legal on UK roads – but I guess you could use it if you have a private driveway.
RT @patphelan Start your car with your iPhone thanks to Viper SmartStart http://j.mp/4lPdvV – Think this is great!
@ian_kenefick thanks http://j.mp/4lPdvV
Start your car with your iPhone? Yup, there's an app for that! http://bit.ly/Cihax So Rad!
Start your car with your iPhone thanks to Viper SmartStart http://bit.ly/1DPsC9 @Ew4n
Very cool iPhone app starts your car for you, need a range rover (bummer) and not very eco friendly – but cool http://tinyurl.com/yfbz28h
nice idea, but I'd be concerned about someone hacking the server and making off with your 100k car. Also, what does the insurance company make of this? They may refuse to pay out… “So you left your car running in the drive without supervision and it got stolen? *hangs up the phone laughing*”
Start your car with your iPhone thanks to Viper SmartStart …: So suddenly being practical for a minute, do yo.. http://bit.ly/ews9T
RT @patphelan: Start your car with your iPhone thanks to Viper SmartStart http://j.mp/4lPdvV #iphoneapp (via @nigelwalsh)
Start your car with your iPhone? Yup, there's an app for that! http://bit.ly/Cihax So Rad!
And environment says: thanks you.
And environment says: thanks you.
Well, these guys over at Click-Vroom.com are coming out with a product that does that same thing, called the DynaKey, and it's less than half the cost, and it even includes an alarm system with it. AND they even take payments too! Viper has a yearly subscription fee, but the DynaKey lets you pick whatever phone option you want – your own phone, an additional line on your existing cell phone package, and even prepaid minutes work with this thing. No contract or agreements necessary. What's there to lose? The wait until the end of January, I suppose, when the thing is expected to be released, but until then though, they've got a waiting list for people to sign up on. Anyway, just thought I'd share.
And I think that are swarms of thieves waiting for careless people so they can steal cars in such an easy manner:)) Hope you agree with me.