Viper SmartStart for BlackBerry Officially Launches

by Mac Jadalhack

2 March 2010 2 Comments

This was supposed to launch before today, but due to unknown reasons, we had to pull the plug on the post until today. As you all know, Viper is rolling out its SmartStart for BlackBerry which allows you to start, unlock, lock, and open trunk from virtually anywhere. We got the official green light yesterday that the Viper SmartStart is officially available as of now. SmartStart is a new, but scary concept of starting your car if you think about it. When I mention scary, I don’t mean it in a bad way, as none of us ever thought we’d see ways to start our vehicles from a BlackBerry. You can check out more info about the product over at Viper.com/SmartStart. Hit the jump to check out the full video demo for Viper SmartStart including the full press release.

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DIRECTED ELECTRONICS’ AWARD-WINNING VIPER SMARTSTART NOW AVAILABLE FOR BLACKBERRY

“Start Your Car from Virtually Anywhere with Your BlackBerry”
Directed Electronics announced that its award-winning Viper SmartStart, which allows users to start their car remotely with their iPhone, can be used with most BlackBerry smartphones starting today.

According to Mike Simmons, Executive Vice President of Directed Electronics, “Viper SmartStart is now available for BlackBerry devices through a free app, available for download now at http://www.viper.com/BlackBerry and soon on BlackBerry App World, providing BlackBerry users all of the great features that iPhone users have been enjoying since the product was introduced in October.”

Particularly popular in cold weather climates, remote start allows users to start their vehicle by remote control to defrost the windows and pre-warm the cabin in the winter or pre-cool the car in the summer, so they get into a comfortable car that’s ready to drive. Most remote start systems use a small remote control on the user’s keychain to activate remote start, but these “keyfobs” typically have limited range. Viper SmartStart has virtually unlimited range – an important feature to remote start users.

“After we introduced Viper SmartStart for the iPhone, we quickly heard from our dealers and customers who carry BlackBerry devices. They are just as passionate about their choice of smartphone and they have been anxiously awaiting Viper SmartStart for BlackBerry,” added Simmons. “By leveraging their smartphone user interface, Viper SmartStart introduces a whole new value proposition to customers. From operating key functions on their vehicle without using their key, to remote unlocking if a family member is locked out of their car, to the most advanced vehicle security features ever available, Viper SmartStart is truly creating a new paradigm for the future of the remote start and car security category.”

BlackBerry users with most security or remote start systems from Viper, Clifford or Python will now be able to download the free app, have SmartStart professionally installed on their vehicle, then activate their account. Depending on installation, users will be able to start their car, lock and unlock the doors, arm or disarm the security system, pop the trunk, or panic the siren, (which can also be used as a car finder) – all using their BlackBerry. Users with a compatible security system will also be notified on their smartphone if their siren has been triggered by an attempted break-in.

According to Kevin Duffy, President of Directed Electronics, “Today we have made Viper SmartStart technology accessible to tens of millions of BlackBerry users – a significant and distinctly different market from the iPhone, whose users are likely to be just as receptive to the innovative features offered by our product.”

Retailers already carry the necessary hardware – either the VSM100 Viper SmartStart module, or the equivalent DSM100 Directed SmartStart module, each with an MSRP of $299. Besides the free app, users will also need a compatible Viper, Python or Clifford remote start or remote start/security system, available at thousands of authorized retailers nationwide including Best Buy stores.

“We will continue to develop the Viper SmartStart product roadmap in 2010 and beyond,” according to Duffy, “with new products and features enabled by software, on a variety of hardware platforms and in new markets around the world. Viper SmartStart truly is a game-changing product.”

For more information, please visit www.viper.com/smartstart

-by Mac Jadalhack