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Now mobile phones can unlock car and start them
By siliconindia
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Wednesday, 01 October 2008, 16:51 IST
Bangalore: Mobile phones now will be fitted with technology that will allow users to unlock the car and start the engine without using conventional keys. Sharp designed a phone that would work on Japanese phone company NTT DoCoMo's network, which includes the functionality of a smart key for a Nissan car. The new technology- the 'intelligent key' can be loaded on a cellphone and works through a mobile network.
Cars will be fitted with the intelligent key which will be able to recognize when the owner is in the locality before automatically opening the doors. The recognition technology in the car system was initially developed by Nissan Motor, which launched smart keys for opening car doors six years ago and has since shipped around one million cars in Japan. However, this is the first time that the keyless technology has been built into mobile phone devices.
The phone uses existing technology that senses when the correct key is nearby, unlocks the car's doors and allows the engine to be started when the key is inside the car. In practice, you would keep your mobile phone in your pocket and approach your Nissan. Sensors in the car would detect the unique signal from the phone when you got close, and unlock the doors when you touched the door handle. This same signal from the mobile phone also makes it possible to crank over the engine by pushing the car's start button.
Nissan, Sharp and NTT DoCoMo will be showing a demonstration of the mobile phone and smart key combo at Ceatec Japan by October 2009. The phone will be on the market in Japan in the second quarter of 2009.
Moreover, many claim that this system even works in many of the normal safety locks too. There is an email circulating that states that you can unlock your car door keyless lock with a cell phone. If you lock your keys in your car, you can supposedly call home if you have a spare set of keys. Ask the person who answers to hold your remote key device up to the phone and push the open button. If you hold your mobile phone about a foot from the door, it is supposed to unlock the door even though it is a different kind of frequency.
