Viper app allows remote start of your car with iPhone
As the iPhone continues to introduce apps both silly and indispensable, it should come as no surprise that there's now an app for starting your car remotely. Introduced by car alarm company Viper, the SmartStart app comes in two flavors: a $299 package if you already have a compatible Viper alarm system or a $499 deal for a stand alone unit that comes with everything you need to start operating your car with Apple's Jesus phone. In addition to remote start, the SmartStart app can also lock and unlock your car, open the trunk and sound your panic alarm.
Previously we've seen the ZipCar app for the iPhone tout lock/unlocking capabilities, but this is the first time an app has enabled your iPhone to actually turn on a car. What's next? Well, we're going to start holding our breath for an app that's lets us drive our cars using the iPhone, just like James Bond did with his 7 Series in Tomorrow Never Dies. Big breath, big breath...
Follow the jump for a video of how the system works and what it can do.
[Source: Viper, Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
AD 4:07PM (10/13/2009)
You can exhale. Here is the app you want.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHDwKT564Kk&feature=player_embedded
Reply
Lucas 4:08PM (10/13/2009)
$299 for this vs. a FREE FOB? (no, not an immigrant!)
Reply
geo.stewart 4:14PM (10/13/2009)
the perfect gift for the guy (or gal) who owns a $45K Lancer
zamafir 6:24PM (10/13/2009)
zing! nice one!
James Sonne 4:11PM (10/13/2009)
Just wait until someone hacks the webapp, or Viper stops caring about their servers and customer information leaks, and a hacker unlocks everyone's cars all at once.
Reply
Ben 4:28PM (10/13/2009)
A hacker unlocking all cars at once? Scary, but super awesome.
James Sonne 4:48PM (10/13/2009)
Yeah, saw hello to "Gone in
James Sonne 4:49PM (10/13/2009)
Yeah, say hello to "Gone in Less Than 60 Seconds: Nicholas Cage is Back, But Only Briefly!"
(weird, the less than sign truncates messages)
vkchu 4:54PM (10/13/2009)
omguberbbqhax!
DCLXVI 5:44AM (10/14/2009)
Yes, I think it can be a serious security problem.
FOBs are more secure IMHO.
Even if this does not allow to remove the wheel locking or open the door, what would prevent somenone to start your car and let it run out of fuel...?
Billy S 4:18PM (10/13/2009)
I like the ZR1 in the demo.
Reply
Ben 4:27PM (10/13/2009)
Shut the lady up! Can't hear the ZR1 engine.
Reply
saar 4:32PM (10/13/2009)
Cool feature.
Car games
Reply
evaristo.jo 4:36PM (10/13/2009)
What if you are on vacation and you accidentally turn the car on, how do you shut it off?
Reply
Travis 5:02PM (10/13/2009)
You know, that's a legitimate concern. I wonder how they address that. I remote start from a fob always has to be in range...I would assume this has no range issues.
For example, I can monitor my garage door from my iPhone, but while it's technically possible (in fact easy) to also control it, I find that to be unsafe without being able to see it.
James Sonne 4:50PM (10/13/2009)
Uh, same way you turned it on ... :-/
Thunderbuck 5:36PM (10/13/2009)
Remotes starters do NOT unlock the car (or the steering wheel, for that matter). Because there's no key in the ignition, the steering wheel can't unlock and the car cannot be shifted out of Park. If it's a manual, and a thief breaks in while the car is running on remote start, the engine will shut down when the clutch is depressed.
They typically only leave the car running for a preset time, too.
Dimcorner 7:47PM (10/13/2009)
My concern wasn't about breaking into it. If I'm away for 1 week and it accidentally remote starts, is it going to sit and idle for 7 days? I don't see a shut down button on it.
Also, this remote start seems to unlock doors since the picture does show a door unlock button.
Venom 8:15PM (10/13/2009)
Its called the gas running out. lol
Most of these things time out after like 10 or 12 minutes anyway.
Chris 4:39PM (10/13/2009)
For as much as this costs, I'd expect it to be able to do more than just unlock the car or do a remote start. Unless you can use it to turn your lights on/off, set the A/C or heater/defrost, I'd rather stick with the $5 fob on my keychain.
Reply