A product of the Inilex company, the Kepler Advantage is a mobile, wireless solution that enables users to remotely control certain aspects of their car.

“The car is mobile, so the solution is mobile,” says Scott Ferguson, founder and CEO of Inilex. “And people are, of course, also mobile, so the system is accessible via the internet, as well as any phone.”

Just a few centimeters long, Kepler monitors security and efficiency aspects of a vehicle. Plugged in to any vehicle’s data bus, it allows a number of remote functions, including setting alarms, starting the engine, and unlocking doors. Users are able to send commands to control various mechanical devices and retrieve status reports.

The target customer group includes private car owners and fleet operators who want to maximize the efficiency of their vehicle usage, as well as strengthen security. One feature, GeoFence, can be used for both private and commercial demands. For example, parents allowing a teenager to drive their vehicle could program a maximum speed and distance – if these parameters are violated, the parents are alerted. Or, the manager of a fleet of delivery vehicles could program routes and speeds, and easily follow up on each vehicle's progress.

The product also proves very effective in cases of car theft, wherever the vehicle is parked. The system determines the position of the vehicle and creates a virtual fence around it; if the car moves outside the "QuickFence" the user is notified via SMS or e-mail. As the information is relayed in real time, it can help police track and retrieve the car faster.

“The solution cannot stop a car thief, but it helps to quickly recover the car,” Ferguson says. “This often happens within the hour, because police and insurance companies get relevant information quickly and can get quick access to the car owner.”

The Kepler Advantage can be accessed in three ways: via a website, via a PDA or web-enabled phone, and via a voice command system over a fixed or mobile  phone. The menu of choices for each is the same, and has specially designed interfaces for the PC and mobile-phone screens.

Since the launch of the Kepler series of products in 2006, more than 6000 customers in the US have used at least one, and more than 70 stolen cars have been recovered as a result of its technology. That number is expected to grow rapidly as more users are added. The newest addition, the Kepler Advantage, gives customers advanced controls for their vehicles such as remote start and engine diagnostics. The products range in cost from USD 599 to USD 1099 to purchase, while a monthly fee of between USD 7.99 and USD 14.99 is charged, depending on which functionalities have been chosen.

Inilex now has plans to cooperate more closely with such entities as mobile operators and car manufacturers to enhance the solution. Inilex says the Kepler will be continuously upgraded, and future functionality could include such car-thief stoppers as making the car impossible to drive faster than 16kmh or having the horn sound as the car is being driven. In the near future, Inilex also would like to see the system in other parts of the world, starting with Australia and South Africa.

“The demand from customers prompted us to develop this kind of solution,” Ferguson says. “With only one touch of a button or one word, customers are now able to control many different aspects of a vehicle.”

Helena Jansson
Editorial Services