Viper Security launches SmartStart iPhone app for well-appointed whips
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted October 13th 2009 1:06PM
posted October 13th 2009 1:06PM
Jealous of the way those hipper-than-thou ZipCar people are always unlocking the doors to their rented Minis with an iPhone? We aren't either. But if you are looking to recreate that scenario with your Dodge Dart, have we got a gadget for you! If you already own a compatible Viper security system, the SmartStart module will let lock and unlock your car, arm and disarm your car alarm, pop the trunk, or fire off that panic alarm -- all from your cherished handset. There are two modules available, priced at $299 and $499, depending on which Viper system you've installed. You also need a SmartStart account which will run you $29 a year (the first year's free). But don't take our word for it -- check out the action-packed video below for a breathtaking recreation of the system's features.
See more video at our hub!
I'm hoping everyone's still hanging onto that keychain remote, though... 3G reception hard to come by in parking garages.
Oh. My. God. An insightful comment on Engadget. I think I'm going to have to go lie down now.
(Seriously - that IS a good point.)
You wouldnt want to start your car in your garage anyways. Something about Carbon monoxide :P
I would assume this would be more likely used if your car is parked outside where its cold and you want to start it from indoors.
Then again, if they use AT&T's 3G network then your point is totally spot on.
Somehow, I doubt there'd be much of an issue using this over EDGE.
but what do I know?
Their selling point is you can start you car from virtually anywhere. When the fuck would you ever need that? -_-
Move to Chicago for the winter and you'll find out.
Move anywhere it gets ungodly cold.
@Joshua Ochs
+1
A lot of the above comments seem to come from people that have the luxury of a garage attached to their house, a drive way or can always park right in front of their house (hello suburbs!).
I live in Chicago and remote start is a god send during the winter months. It let's the car warm up a bit while you walk through 2 blocks of snow to get to your car.
I live in Toronto and it does get pretty cold, but I still see this as kinda pointless, remote starters generally go far enough...
For those of us with a recent Prius, we never take the keyfob out our pockets anyway. So for me, it would be:
1. Turn car remotely with iPhone
2. Walk up to car, get in
3. Put in drive and go
Sounds good to me...
But then again, you own a prius
its not over price if you need a new set of keys
If you have a recent Lexus, this is not even worth taking a look at:
Lexus keyfob:
1) (with the keyfob still in your pocket or purse) Just touch the door handle to unlock any door
2) Push the engine start button and go
* Plus, you have the ability to open windows/sunroof with the Lexus keyfob
Or buy a Lexus credit-card sized keyfob and leave it in your wallet. Then there is no need to even have a separate keyfob.
ahh toyota, always stealing ideas from BMW, go nazi-mobiles ftw!
Assuming your iPhone battery lasts long enough to get you back into your car.
If you could only use it to drive the car....
- Amir Rosenthal
I love that. Need to get one.
imagine a big ass key ring full of iphones for keys. Makes it harder to decipher which is the right one
that music reminded me of super monkey ball for gamecube lol
I'm assuming most of you who are trying to justify this as the "I can just walk up to my car and start it" don't live in climates where it gets ungodly cold (up here in WI we see below zero for six months out of the year, sometimes longer). It's awesome to be able to start your car when it's covered in snow and in 5-10 minutes be able to walk out and hop in to drive off, where if you did it the other way you'd have to brush off your windows, let the car warm up to allow the fluids to properly lubricate everything in your transmission/engine all while sitting in a freezing cold car. Most cars made now come with remote start options, which is nice but the reception on them is terrible.
So somehow....
-remove keys from pocket, unlock door, start car
has become less efficient than
-remove phone from pocket, unlock door, cram phone back in pocket, remove key from pocket, start car
Er, no thanks.
You don't live in an area where it gets very very cold, do you?
PANIC BUTTON! :D
too bad iphone battery sucks
This is just too expensive and on top of that a yearly subscription, dont understand what the Business Managers of this company are thinking
Works with BlackBerry and Iphone
http://www.connect2car.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=74
Hah! My Mercedes starts when i squeeze my pecker.
Lol... is that another way of saying that you badly want this app on your platform?
Even better, when are they gonna add push notifications to alert you when the alarm is going off, the app does not currently do this, so i would still need to carry my viper remote around all the time.
id consider this if it was included in the standard alarm as I dont have one yet. but im not going to pay $300-$500 ON TOP of the alarm for this. someone will make it cheaper.
Where is my WinMo app?
I think the most useful features are the alarm notification, the unauthorized vehicle movement notification, and the remote engine kill switch. Those are the features that prove more useful. I know some alarm keyfobs already do this, but you have to be in range (anywhere between 50 and 100 meters) in order for the car signal to reach the keyfob. Since this communicates over GSM (thus the subscription) to the phone, you can be anywhere.
And from someone who lives in a cold climate and has used remote starters before, you normally need to be in visual range of the vehicle when you start it so that you can see your parking lights come on to be assured that it started. If this system provides two-way communication (i.e. you press the button, then 10 secs later system responds that vehicle is running), this would make the remote starter infinitely more useful.
Sadly the price is a little too steep right now, but the idea is spot on.
Just want to point out a few things that commenters are missing:
1) A lot of people, such as myself, do live in very cold climates. A remote starter not only warms your car, it also melts the ice off of the windshield saving you 15-ish minutes in the morning scraping ice and snow off of your car.
2) Most car manufacturers recommend letting a vehicle warm up at idle when the temps are a ways below freezing. Here in the snow belt, that means basically every day from December - April.
3) A lot of people also have apartments (or, in my case, offices) that are far enough away from where they park that a standard remote start won't work. Or, try it from inside a shopping mall or what not. By time you are in range, your car won't have long enough for the car to warm up. So, most any standard remote start system is not going to work for me and surely others.
4) My late model Accord has a factory add-on remote start option. It's about $750 installed, and I have thought about it every winter since I got it but haven't pulled the trigger yet. I can go to Best Buy or the local car audio shop and get a cheap-o car start for about $200, but it's a one way system with very limited reception. That means that you have no way of knowing if your car actually started and have the limitations noted in #3 above.
5) The website says the $299 module is an addon for existing Viper start/security systems, and the $499 module is everything you need to add the system to your car. I'm assuming there is some extra for install, not sure if they build that in or not.
So, while I may be a minority here, the $499 option is actually a pretty good deal for me. It's still a little rich for my blood, but it's not as far fetched as you might think for those of us who get extreme winters and spend wayyyy too much time scraping half an inch of ice off their cars.
For the reading comprehension impaired. If you ALREADY have a compatible Viper Remote start, it will be an additional $299 for the module to get it to work with the iPhone.
If you do not have a Remote Start, it will be $499 for the ENTIRE system - Remote Start and App USAGE.
The app is free by itself, but it won't work unless you purchase the service.
I think with that known, it's a decent price - on the higher end side.
i've always wanted this for my compustar alarm.
This can already be done via text message or web login using Computrack by Firstech/Compustar
This would be a little annoying to use as a regular remote, unless it comes with a separate 2-way, but as an add-on for extreme distance starting it would be awesome. Might have to look into this for my Viper 5901. I notice they came out with a 5902 with colour OLED screen. Ugh. Figures. They always release new shit right after I buy the former top of the line stuff.
Wow, I literally JUST THIS WEEKEND installed a Viper 5701 in my '09 Mazdaspeed3 and NOW I can wire another module in for DOUBLE the price of my alarm just to be able to control it from my iPhone? TOTALLY WORTH IT!!
Lock yourself out if your iphone runs out of battery
But you'd still have to actually have the keys with you to turn the car on, correct? If so, this is just unnecessary.
I just checked the FAQ on their website and the $500 includes professional installation if anyone was wondering. Might just get this for christmas, i would love to have the slush melted off my windshield when i leave for work at 3 in the morning.
this will be funny when a little kid gets a hold of your iPhone and just starts pushing buttons -_-
Honestly, this is a neat idea, so long as the normal keychain fob is not completely replaced by this (In case the phone is unable to be used), there's at least some sort of security feature for the app (Can't use the app without a code) and the ridiculous price comes down. No one is going to pay $300 for the module to connect to their existing Viper alarm system.
I could see myself using this for a number of reasons. A) My current Viper keyfob eats AAA batteries, not using it as often would save cash. B) Sometimes I find myself walking out to get something from my car or wanting to remote start it to warm it up, only to realize I left my keys in the office, in a bag, upstairs, etc Obviously walking to wherever they are isn't going to kill me, but it'd be convenient to also have this functionality in the phone.
I think this is a great idea. Clearly some people get it and some people don't The people that get it are the ones that live in snow country.
I actually designed and built one of these to add on to a viper starter. I'm shocked they can do this for $29 per year .... This is all done via cell service. An IP cellular modem is in the device and the "start" command is sent via either SMS or an IP connection. After building a few proto types and getting everything working I couldn't get a cell company to come anywhere near $29 a year for service ... it was more like $29 per month! My only recourse was to use prepaid cards, but they expire, so you were still looking at $100 year. Unfortunately I abandoned the idea because of this.
I called BB. $300 additional parts and labor to install this in my loaded 05 GMC Envoy. $over $800 and $30 a year after the first year? No thanks.
OK do not get excited!!!! is not going to work in my Cars
Land Rover Range Rover HSE Sport '08
BMW Z4 '06
Mercedes Benz SLK 350 '05
Why? i don't know but they only works in Honda Like Cars
Source: BEST BUY and a lot of Local Alarm Installers in Miami Area...
Super Disappointed...
niceee
Pretend i let my wife use my Tundra for the day:
1: Phone rings, it's the wife saying the keys fell out of her purse when unloading the baby and she accidental locked them in the truck.
2. I pull out the Iphone and unlock the truck door without moving from my desk at work.
I currently have the 5901 on my 2010 Tundra and love it. The Iphone app comes in addition to the 2 (TWO!!!) key fob's that come with the alarm system. You cannot drive away in the car without the key but it would be great to be able to glance at the phone no matter where you are and see the status update on your vehicle, if the alarm went off while you were out of audible range, etc. If you don't want it... DON'T BUY IT!!!!! unless you have something constructive or even intelligent to say about the product, shut the *** up.