Viper SmartStart Now Lets You Control Your Car From Your Smartwatch

Viper initially launched SmartStart in 2009, a mechanic-installed gadget that let a driver wirelessly start their car, open the trunk, and more. Now, with the release of version 4.0, the company has added the ability to start your car wirelessly by simply speaking to your Apple Watch, with an Android version to be made available in two weeks.

“Have your watch guide you to your car,” said Frank DeMartin, senior vice president of Product Development and Engineering for Viper. “Tap your wrist to unlock your doors. Say the word and your engine starts. Wearable technology has the potential to connect drivers to their cars like never before.”

However, it’s important to note that SmartStart isn’t something that drivers can plug in themselves. The hardware must be installed by either a mechanic or a dealer, with Viper saying that it should work with virtually any vehicle. Once it is connected, the unit allows drivers to talk to or tap on their smartwatch to find, lock, unlock, and remotely start their vehicle, as well as manage alerts. Drivers can also follow turn-by-turn directions back to their car, open their trunk, hit the panic button, and receive low battery alerts, all from their wrist.

The new version of the app offers a few other features that are beyond smartwatch compatibility. Users can set a SmartFence to designate specific areas as restricted, subsequently receiving an alert when the car enters or exits that perimeter. If maintenance is required, the app notes diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) and explains the issue in detail. Drivers can also call for roadside assistance in an emergency with just a tap.

Many products have been released in recent times with the similar intention of making older cars “smart,” with competition heating up from Vinli, Automatic, Verizon Hum and others. Although Viper’s product requires complex installation, many other products don’t require installation at all, and work simply by plugging a dongle into the ODB port on a vehicle. However, Viper’s product offers additional functionality that isn’t available when using these simpler devices.

Regardless, Viper is experiencing great success, claiming over 3 million downloads of its SmartStart app to date, and its latest upgrades are likely to help the company continue its growth in this sector.