The newest offering from Simi Valley, Calif.-based CrimeStopper
is MobileStart MS-4. The device uses an OEM keyless entry remote for operation, and it can also be managed and operated through the Web and through a downloadable smartphone app. A useful upgrade option is a connection to the Life Alert System, in which three phone numbers are designated as emergency numbers to call. “It’s not purely a tracker. Being a tracker is a core benefit, but it can assist the consumer in other ways,” said Howard Miller, president of CrimeStopper. “It is a remote start system, data module and GPS tracking device all rolled into one.” The system controls all remote engine start, keyless entry and factory horn security features as well as acquiring GPS locations on the vehi- cle and adding a car finder feature. It comes with an OBD-II T-harness that will supply 12-volt battery and ignition power as well as a quick connection to the vehicle’s CANBUS data network.
Tapping Cellular for Control and Tracking In 2013, Firstech (makers of Compustar) out of Kent, Wash., released the Drone DR-3100, a car control solution that that gives users the ability to track their vehicle using their smart- phone. It is the third version of the DroneMobile hardware. “While Firstech’s previous version of the DroneMobile hard- ware utilized GSM, otherwise known as AT&T’s Edge Network, the DR-3100 utilizes CDMA, which is Verizon’s network,” said Market- ing Manager Justin Lee. “This shift was made in response to the pending shutdown of AT&T’s Edge Network, to which Firstech has been the first to respond.” The new hardware is 60 percent smaller than its predecessor,
Viper SmartStart by Directed Aside from typical remote start functions, this smart- phone-enabled device allows multiple users to control the vehicle. Other features include real-time vehicle status and roadside assistance.
34 Mobile Electronics May 2014
the DR-2000, and features new processing technology com- patible with the Verizon CDMA network. Once DroneMobile is installed, the user can send lock and remote start commands from anywhere using the DroneMobile smartphone app. The DroneMobile app also sends confirmation to the smartphone once the remote start has been initiated. The device, which also includes an onboard GPS antenna, can send push notifications at any sign of trouble. With Directed’s DSM250 SmartStart, starting, locking and unlocking doors, opening the trunk, and activating the panic mode can be achieved through an Android, iPhone or Black- berry. The device is compatible with Directed’s other lines, including Python, Clifford, Avital and Autostart, through the 3G cellular network and Wi-Fi. Other tools for the heavy Inter- net user include being able to provide Facebook updates on location, adding virtual zones to alert the user if the vehicle is entering into a hot spot, and restricting speed alerts and move- ment settings to a programmable time frame. The module can also send text messages to the user’s smartphone if the alarm has been tripped. “These features are ideal for parents concerned about their children’s safety,” said Chris Fierek, marketing director for Directed. “The evolution of the connected car gives vehicle owners not only additional ease of use but peace of mind that their vehicle is safe, not to mention their most prized posses- sion, their children.”
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