Imagine tracking down your stolen car using the SMS (short message service) and immobilising it. Yes, that is now happening.
With the rising uptake of mobile value added services, the entry of mobile phone car tracking service is changing the way we view the handset.
Mr Andrew Kenani, a business development director at Eurosfield Maptrak Kenya Limited says there is growing awareness among vehicle owners about the developments in car tracking business and this new development will change the landscape of vehicle safety.
“Some car tracking firms have in the past frustrated customers and left people with low confidence in the services,” he said.
But this might soon change. Car tracking services have come a long way to what they are today and track companies are keen to make the best out of emerging developments in tracking technology.
In the mobile tracking technology, one logs on to a tracking platform via SMS and can remotely access dashboard functions of the car such as speed and fuel levels as well as Google Maps that show a vehicle’s location.
The same message can be used to alert the tracking company in case of an emergency.
Before the mobile revolution caught on in Kenya less than a decade ago, tracking companies relied heavily on radio frequencies to find stolen cars.
It often failed because savvy thieves could deactivate the tracker as soon as they had taken possession of the car.
“Back then, the systems that were used were not efficient as compared to what we have today. They mainly relied on radio frequencies that do not offer real time access to information,” said Mr Kenani.
Under radio frequency tracking systems, each vehicle is allocated a certain frequency that links it up with the tracking company.
When he realises the car is missing, a client places a call to the tracking company, who launch an investigation to confirm the client’s report, in a process that can take 3 hours or more.
This is enough time for the car to disappear without trace.
Most new age car tracking systems use GPRS technology which allows real time access to information, a factor that makes them superior to radio systems.
GPRS tracking systems are controlled from a mobile phone fitted with a SIM card that is configured to a network.
GPRS connection not only guarantees real time access to information but also enables a client to access information other than a vehicle’s location.
When a subscriber needs to access a tracking platform from a mobile phone, all they need to do is send a short message to the tracking number.
“After the short message is sent, the client will receive a URL address that they can follow to log on to the tracking platform,” said Mr Kenani.
Unlike the old generation tracking systems, GPRS enabled tracking services can be customised to provide specific information, when needed, at designated time intervals.
To a large extent, new age tracking services give a more interactive approach to vehicle tracking for both clients and tracking companies.
Clients are also allowed direct access to archived records.
This is ideal for car owners who want to access past information without having to call the company for its retrieval.
“The historical playback report is among other reports that clients can access. This shows details of past happenings with the vehicle which can be helpful especially when reviewing past cases,” added Mr Kenani.
Other reports available on a tracking platform include fuel, parking and driving reports as well as alarm record reports that come in handy when a vehicle is driven recklessly, crossing geographical fences or has over-stayed at a parking bay.
While new age vehicle tracking is indeed convenient to clients, tracking companies have to dig deep into their pockets to ensure customer satisfaction.
Investment in GPRS tracking systems involves setting up a tracking platform as well as incurring the cost of buying and securing servers and personnel to man the system.
On average, a company can invest up to Sh1 million or more in laying basic infrastructure for the tracking system.
Due to competition in new age tracking business, companies have settled for flexible payment modes of fixed annual subscription charges that cater for cost of service other than having to bill clients every month.
Developments in car tracking systems have opened up business opportunities to both domestic and foreign track companies.
Eurosfield Maptrack Limited is among the new entrants in the business, having set up shop locally late last year.
It is the Kenyan branch of UK based Eurosfield Maptrack which has been in the business of car tracking for a decade with a client base of about three million to boot.
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