A new car security system that identifies car owners through their mobile phones was launched in the UK, and covers most of the western European countries.
The Auto-txt system identifies a car as stolen if the car is started with the keys but the owner's Bluetootn enabled mobile phone is not present. When the police are following a stolen car, Auto-txt allows officers to track the vehicle via GPS signals and prevent it restarting using remote wireless technology once the vehicle ignition is turned off.
The platform is the first stolen vehicle protection and tracking system to have been awarded Thatcham's Category 5 accreditation, a new insurance industry standard that is supported by the police. Thatcham is the motor insurance industry research centre which aims to develop research and standards which contain or reduce the cost of motor insurance claims.
Category 5 requires that for improved security users need something else in addition to the keys to prove that they are the car's legal owner. In the case of Auto-txt this is via the Bluetooth connection on a mobile telephone.
The Auto-txt product is available from GBP 279 for the standard tracking system and from GBP 349 if the system incorporates the remote disabling feature.
