Lost car keys? No problem for Apple iPhone app.

It’s one of those car-related emergencies that can happen to anyone You are out at a party or restaurant having a good time with family and friends. As the evening starts to wrap up you get a sickening feeling in the pit of your stomach when you realize your car keys are missing. After frantically asking everyone if they have turned in a lost set of keys, you come to the grim realization that they are gone for good. This scenario has been playing out almost from the day former Cadillac salesman Vincent Bendix invented the turn-key ignition in 1910.

The nightmare of dealing with lost car keys could become a thing of the past thanks to a new application developed for the Apple iPhone. California-based Viper has just announced the release of SmartStart – a subscription service that can unlock/lock, start, open the trunk, heat or cool virtually any car, all remotely, all via your iPhone.

This remarkable new app works on any car with electric windows and locks (cars without a remote-starting feature may need to have a SmartStart receiver installed). SmartStart can be programmed to synch-up with multiple automobiles and it works most everywhere with cellular service. Parents throughout Los Angeles will instantly recognize the value of this feature. Imagine being able to unlock and start your kid’s car in a Malibu parking lot without leaving the comfort of your bed in Beverly Hills.

So, what if you are locked out of your car and you don’t have an iPhone or the $500-plus it takes to install a Viper SmartStart receiver? Then you need a professional locksmith. This is no time for amateurs. Due to the sophisticated technology used in car lock/ignition systems and the ease with which they can be damaged by an inexperienced locksmith, it is best to call a company specializing in automobile lockouts.