Working with the vehicle’s horn, the module tracks the vehicle’s doors, hood and trunk status and generates an alarm if there’s an intrusion. A starter kill func- tion and dual zone shock sensor features are also managed by the module, and require additional parts. Combining Fortin’s 3X Lock stand- alone remote starter function with its new standalone alarm, the functions can be controlled with the OEM remote, with long-range radio frequency kits, or even with a compatible smartphone app. CarConnection, manufactured by Audiovox, which is headquartered in Hauppauge, N.Y., is another device that depends solely on the vehicle’s exist- ing architecture. CarConnection tracks and monitors the vehicle with no pro- fessional installation required, because it plugs directly into the car’s OBD-II port. “Telematics has been an industry that’s been waiting to be developed,” said Audiovox President Tom Malone. “With people wanting more out of a connected product, the features on today’s devices are user-friendly and have more daily relevance.” CarConnection’s built-in GPS unit and
two-way cellular data connection mean the car is always connected. Once con- nected, the vehicle can be registered online, and a driver’s dashboard can be viewed. The dashboard is where alerts can be set up to send notifications mon- itoring everything from engine health to fuel economy. The dashboard can also include recalls associated with the vehicle, based on the VIN (vehicle identi- fication number).
When the car is on, the device updates the vehicle’s location every five minutes. “For the 16-year-old driver or an 85-year- old who’s still on the road, CarConnection can designate safe zones, and an alert can be sent when a driver leaves a spec- ified zone,” Malone said. The device also includes a log spot function to locate a vehicle after it has been parked, as well as driver scoring and a distracted driving feature that controls a user’s cellphone while the vehicle is in motion in order to prevent texting. The anti-texting fea- ture is only available for BlackBerry and Android at this time.
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