Autoblog

more secure than keys, the criminal has to at least have a basic understanding of the iPhone UI

↓↑report

I think it would be useful. Imagine leaving work in the middle of winter, starting your car from your phone while in your office/cube and the few minutes it takes to get to your car, the motor would have warmed enough to warm the inside of your car. Some cars have a limited feature that is on a fixed schedule and not on demand.

Or, imagine having to park in a city, walking 3 blocks to your destination, forgetting where you parked your car, and calling your car to tell you where it is. Then bringing a map up on your iPhone. I've known plenty of people who've wasted an hour or so just searching for their car.

Or just imagine, the same 3 block walk, but this time a flash storm appears, which was not predictable. This happens all the time in Florida. Now, you can phone your car to roll up the windows instead of being cracked open.

I'm sure that's enough examples to get the old noggin rolling.

↓↑report

T.Y., unless I'm reading it wrong, the system uses bluetooth, which has a range of 25 feet. Unless your office is IN your car, you probably won't be starting your car or doing much else with this system.

↓↑report

The article lists the range as being up to a mile.

It sounds to me like the key fob connects to your phone, with bluetooth (key in your pocket/purse/bag/whatever, phone in your hand, no wire connection needed)

THEN, with the keyfob's security authentication, it connects to your car with the phone's GSM transceiver directly to the car (not via cell towers), which has a much larger range than bluetooth would have. Then the interface on the phone can control car functions, and not just locks and remote start.

A wireless keyfob with that kind of radio range, security, and functionality that this concept has would be huge, and additional to the cell phone you are already carrying.

A bluetooth keyfob with an authentication key that your car recognizes inside your car via bluetooth, and outside your car via an iPhone app middleman, the keyfob itself could be VERY small, even if it still had keyless entry buttons on it, for when you aren't using your iphone.

BTW, for AMcA, it wouldn't surprise me if Schlage, Yale, or some other home security manufacturer if they included a bluetooth receiver to unlock your door knob or dead-bolt when a certain pre-authenticated bluetooth device, like a cell phone or keyfob comes into a certain range...

This is some of the sort of stuff that Bluetooth was designed for. short range radio connections, and device control. short range wireless USB-like data transfer is only part of Bluetooth's potential.

↓↑report

You'll still have keys, and a keyfob, you just might not have to carry a physical key to the car itself. Not much of a net gain there. I've never had the need for remote start, never lost my car, nor do I leave the windows down, nor would I need to control anything about my car from a mile away but I guess if I ever find that I do it'll be there.

↓↑report