SMS: Someone's stealing your vehicle!

Mahesh Verma, a sales manager, often has to park his car at odd places. He has installed an alarm in his car. However, even if the motion sensors detect an intruder and start beeping, he would not be anywhere close to hear it. There are countless executives like Verma who encounter similar situations. Some have even landed at parking lots only to find their vehicles missing.

Anti-theft system manufactures, on their part, have been trying to outdo thieves with technologies like immobilisers that disable vital vehicle circuits essential to starting the vehicle. Many vehicles also have factory-installed OEM units that ensure protection through the ignition system. OEM immobilisers function through the electronic computer module (ECM) system, under the hood of the vehicle. A radio identification tag attached to the key must be read by the ECM in order to allow ignition.

While immobilisers may deter vehicle thieves, mobile technologies, too, have begun providing innovative solutions. Consider this: Combater-based Vazhikatti Systems’ pager-sized device, powered by a GSM module, detects tampering and immediately sends an SMS to alert the owner whose phone the device is connected to. The device has an internal battery, can be controlled by any basic mobile phone model, and does not need any additional application or software.

The bike anti-theft device has a module which encases a SIM card. It has six wires attached to different parts of the bike. Two of the wires are connected to the bike's battery, from which it draws power, others to the ignition, siren and immobilisation. A micro controller in the device inspects the bike for tampering and activates the module with the SIM, using a technology called ARM7 (generation of ARM processors designed for mobile devices and other low-power electronics).

“We also have an electronic component called automotive RELAY, which can be activated the by the owner through an SMS. It breaks the connection to the engine and brings the vehicle to a grinding halt,” says Vishal Jain, director, Vazhikatti Systems.

The non-GPS version of the bike uses a technology called cell ID triangulation. The device's SIM senses the location of the bike by finding out the address of the cell tower, and sends the information to the owner. This, too, can be activated by the owner through an SMS. "The device would be connected only to the mobile of the owner and cannot be tampered with. In fact, if anyone tries to tamper with it, it would send an SMS to the owner," says Jain.

The company had earlier designed the device for cars, bikes and homes. It has now launched a version for bikes as well. The device is bundled with Loop Mobile in Mumbai and costs Rs 2,440 a piece for the GPS version, while the non-GPS version costs Rs 3,400. Loop Mobile would charge another Rs 551 every year for the service.

The company has similar wireless devices for home security, too. These can be fixed behind doors or wardrobes. The company claims these devices are different because they do not need power sources, as they have an internal battery, unlike many other security systems which are available in the market.

"It is a small, portable device which can be fixed without the help of a technician, unlike many others. It can be used for multiple purposes. One can use it for the home today, and the shop tomorrow," said Jain. He also said the idea was to have a low-cost device. The company plans to price these devices at less than Rs 2,000 a piece. The company feels the integration with mobile technology would help people track their property remotely. "Mobile is a device which everyone carries constantly, and this can be used as a remote,” adds Jain.