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Service lets owners trace and lock cars with mobile phone Ting Kheng Siong/Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia | February 3 2006 SINGAPORE : Your mobile phone can now become your car key. Singapore company Asia Tracks has invented a new device to remotely trace, lock and immobilise your car anywhere using just your mobile phone. With just the touch of a finger, a car can be traced and immobilised anywhere, anytime -- all thanks to the special mobile phone-car remote service, which can also help forgetful owners lock their cars. Users can also trace the whereabouts of their cars via the Internet or SMS through the Global Positioning System. Said Patrick Loh, who uses the service, "It offers me a comfort level. At least when I reached Malacca for example last week, my wife can even trace me over the computer, where I'm located inside my car. And secondly, if anyone has intention to take my car or nab my car, at least I can immobilise it, so that police or whoever can trace my car and at least recover it." Drivers aside, the track-and-trace feature is also useful for small and medium enterprises like finance companies. Said Carey Wee, service developer at Asia Tracks, "Basically, the main focus is on tracking their vehicles and their personal security. In the event that the car owners didn't pay two or three instalments, the finance company can recover the vehicle via the computer or they can immobilise the car anytime." The cost of such a service is about S$3,000 for a three-year contract. The company says it currently has about 350 registered users but is expecting that number to grow. - CNA /ct |
