App Lets Users Control Car Functions From Cell Phone

GM released information today about a new mobile application that will allow users to control some car functions from their iPhone or Android phone. 

The app can remotely start and lock/unlock your vehicle, and it could also come in handy for heating up your car in the winter or cooling it down in the summer, or to make sure your car is locked. 

The app can also activate the vehicle’s alarm system and help you find your vehicle in a crowded parking lot. One of the app’s greatest benefits is that you can control these functions from any distance; normal key fobs have these controls but work only a few hundred feet away from the car. 

You can also check your vehicle’s oil life, tire pressure and lifetime mpg. The program will also store the phone presets for your dealer’s service department, roadside assistance and OnStar adviser. 

When you set up the app, you create a user account and PIN that you will need to control the vital access-point controls, such as remotely starting your car. You also get a prompt asking you to verify that your car is in a safe place — if you’re unlocking your car but aren’t within viewing distance of it, for instance. 

The mobile app acts as an extension to OnStar’s Safe and Sound and Directions and Connections services, which means you will need to have one of those plans to use the app. A basic OnStar plan costs $18.95 a month or $199 a year. 

The app will be available on most 2011 Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and GMC vehicles.

Comments

Sorry, pet peeve:

"When you set up the app, you create a user account and PIN number"

I have to create a Personal Identification Number Number?

I won't be around in 20111 to worry about pin numbers.

@Dan thanks for pointing that out. We have corrected the error.

Does the remote start option work even if the car doesn't have a remote starter (i.e. does it use OnStar technology or something)? That would be cool.

Dan, I'm with you, sort of. ANOTHER number to remember?!?!?!? If that was your point. Of course at the same time the PINs are about security and the last thing you want is for someone to be able to gain access to your car too easily or worse start manipulating things in your car whilst you're driving. I look forward to getting an app like this on my phone though. Honestly, it's about time.

This is just too much (phone apps)...and I can see all the problems this will cost from a Software Engineer pov...

What if someone else has your phone, without you realizing it?

I guess there are at least 2 options here:
(1) get a chain or somehow, glue ur phone permanently to your body; or
(2) create another app for that usecase.

(For those that aren't tech savvy, it's so easy to keychains those password in your phones, and many will do it, rendering the prompting of password useless when activating the usage of this app. Sure, you don't have to use that keychain "program" but that means remembering MANY PIN)

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