Some applications for the Apple iPhone have started to emerge that can start and even drive your car remotely.
There's nothing new about remote starting itself: it has become almost a commonplace among some high-end barges, as well as with the ICE crew. But the idea of being able to do it from an application on your phone is a nice gimmick, and the Viper SmartStart application could be a godsend on cold mornings.
Imagine sitting inside with a steaming brew and being able to start your car, with the doors safely locked, allowing you to step out into a freshly warmed-up ride ready to go. SmartStart can also unlock some cars' boots, and can even set off the alarm to ward off any chancing thieves who think they've spotted an easy catch idling on your driveway.
As far as we can tell its only available in America at the moment, and though the application is free it requires a $300 module for your car and a $30 annual subscription.
For those interested in something far more ambitious (and entirely, wonderfully pointless), there is an app that will do a little more than just start and lock the car. The insane and surely illegal iDriver application not only starts the car, but also allows you to drive it around, using the iPhone's lovely 3.5-inch display to watch out for errant children and stray walls. This couldn't possibly go wrong, could it?
We're not sure this idea is going to catch on, but you can decide for yourself after watching the demo videos below.
Oh - and be sure to look out for the upcoming hacked version, 'iSteal'...