February 1st, 2007
Demo 07: Wireless control of your car
Inilex launched Kepler Advantage, which a GPS-enabled wireless device for security and monitoring that plugs into a car’s data bus. From a phone, PDA or other device, you can set alarms, start the engine, unlock doors and receive messages, such as "your vehicle has been stolen." The QuickFence service locates the vehicle and sets a virtual fence around it. If the vehicle moves outside the virtual fence, the user gets a text message.
Kepler Advantage can also send messages about the speed of a vehicle, which comes in handy when you have kids that reach driving age. The Kepler Security System comes in three versions, starting at $695 for basic GPS tracking. The high-end version, at a pricey $1,279, provides various status and diagnostic reports and allows for control of locks, the ignition and other elements. I would expect this type of functionality to become more mainstream over the next few years, and baked in the extras of higher-end vehicles.
For more coverage Demo 07 consumer products check out Webware.
Dan Farber, editor-in-chief of CNET News.com, has more than 20 years of experience as an editor and journalist covering technology. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
