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Vrooooom! Start your car (and more) from your iPhone or iPod touch

by Steven Sande Oct 25th 2009 at 9:30PM

TUAW reader Ethan pointed us in the direction of something new, cool, and available only for iPhone and iPod touch (take that, Palm Pre and Android phones!)

BestBuy has an exclusive on the new Viper SmartStart System, which can do a number of things for your wheels:
  • Start your car with virtually unlimited range
  • Warm your car in winter; cool your car in summer
  • Unlock your car or truck
  • Arm the alarm to protect your car
  • Activate panic alarm to protect yourself
  • Receive push-button status notifications
It uses a free iPhone app [iTunes link] to give you that remote love, like when you are visiting friends overseas and want to scare people by starting your car up while it's sitting by itself in the airport parking lot. The developers also note that in the near future, a new release of the app will give you push notification if your car alarm goes off.

There are two versions available: a module (SmartStart VSM100 Module, US$299.99) for cars that are already equipped with compatible Viper starting systems, and a fully loaded package (SmartStart VSM4000 System, US$499.99) for the rest of us.

Some of the app reviewers have noted that you're not only paying for the system and your iPhone bill, but there's also a US$29 monthly annual GSM service bill that you'll have to pay (the first year of service is complimentary with your purchase). However, if the money isn't an object and you're already clueless about what to get a loved one for Christmas, this might be an idea to consider.

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TUAW reader Ethan pointed us in the direction of something new, cool, and available only for iPhone and iPod touch (take that, Palm Pre and...
 

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Jon Kessler

Unless you've got an older car or an extremely well insulated home, you can't get carbon monoxide poisoning anymore in the garage. In fact, in some cities, what comes out of your tailpipe is cleaner than the ambient air, and certainly more tasty. Meanwhile, will the GSM drain my battery or not?

October 27 2009 at 1:08 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Jon Kessler's comment
Tim Irwin

Safety police alert!
Really this App has future "Fail" all over it. Auto manufacturers never support idling or starting a vehicle in an enclosed environments.
A little Common Sense here folks!?
future news report at 11:
Family Asphyxiated at home by son over seas while on a Bar crawl!
Iphone App to blame!
Car remotely started from across the state slips into gear drives thru house and into Pool!
Iphone App to blame!
Just cause technology allows us to do some thing doesn't mean it'd be wise for us use it.
One phone call from the President can remotely start a nuclear war after all.
I'm just sayin.

October 27 2009 at 3:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kirankonathala

Could someone tell me if my old Ford Taurus 98' will take this cool technology without complaining?! What if I change my car in the future, can I take this technology to my new car (Hybrid or electric).... $29 per year is fine, not per month!

$150 labor charge and parts is not so cool though :(

October 26 2009 at 11:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Steven Sande

Hey, I only write the news, I don't make these products! ;-)

One of our readers sent us a direct email with a link to an article that explains why you should NEVER use a remote car starter:

http://www.wheels.ca/article/782517

Thanks to Joel McLeod for the link.

Steve

October 26 2009 at 10:54 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
zendiz

Why would I need to start my car from the other side of the planet? It would be a nicer app if someone towed the car or broke in, it would signal to my iPhone.

October 26 2009 at 9:19 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ned

So why hasn't anyone just made something like this that connects via WiFi or bluetooth? Is there any reason you'd want to unlock or start your car from a range that couldn't be provided with either of those wireless connections? No monthly/yearly fee, no dead cell dead zones disabling your car, etc.

October 26 2009 at 7:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Ned's comment
Ned

However, if it could provide status on windows (breakage sensors), doors, etc, then I would be much more interested. Maybe even throw in the ability to power down the motor (like with OnStar. you lose horse power, but retain breaking and steering power) for anti-theft (or freaking out your friend who borrowed your car).

If I had to park my car at an airport parking lot, then it would be worth it to monitor the car from who-knows-where.

October 26 2009 at 7:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tim Irwin

This service will be outlawed the first time someone remotely starts a car in a home garage asphyxiating any one inside!
I cant smell the carbon dioxide But I can smell the law suits comin!

October 26 2009 at 6:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Tim Irwin's comment
Jeremiah Moon

Not to be that guy, but
carbon monoxide ≠ carbon dioxide.

October 26 2009 at 7:00 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
spiceweasel

Hooray! Finally, a REMOTE way to waste energy!

October 26 2009 at 4:00 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MJW

Having lived in Northern Canada with minimum temperatures of< -40C and now Australia with maxima of +42 I can understand why some folk would want this product. But I have to ask myself with the looming environmental crisis does the world really need it...

October 26 2009 at 2:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jon Kessler

Lost me at $29/month. Got me back at $29/year. Car's always at the airport. The lot's wicked-huge and for 5 months a year wicked cold. They need a dunkin donuts out there. Answer the battery question and I'm BestBuyBound.

October 26 2009 at 1:30 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lmo

Seriously, the remote I got with my Viper system does all that, without the extortionate fees I see here, so why would anyone want to do this? Other than, I suppose, some sort of misguided "cool factor".

October 26 2009 at 1:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to lmo's comment
mikehild

Can you start your car with your remote from the opposite side of the city though? Sounds like you can with this.

October 26 2009 at 9:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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