Now a 'technology cop' to secure and track your cars

Owners and cars could `talk' to each other via the GSM technology driven device unveiled by Bangalore-based iTrans Technologies, a two-year old start up company that works on security technologies for automotives.

Tcop device fitted onto the car enables an owner to be alerted of an intrusion or theft through an SMS who could then trigger a burglar siren by sending back an SMS to the device, Mallesh Reddy, CEO of the company told reporters here.

The company has tied up with Vodafone for SIM card which is activated in a Tcop, Reddy said.

Unlike the traditional car burglar systems that are triggered when someone touches the door, this would send the alert even if someone was trying to break the window pane or fidgeting with the car. It could also set off a voice call to inform about the theft.

The device could also through an SMS, alert the owner if someone in his family or otherwise was using his car without his permission through an ignition alert. Parents could keep tab on the car being used by minor children or others.

The owners could also track where their car was currently located. "The owner could get details of the last 72 hours of the movement of the car and places it has been to, he said.

It could also be fitted onto school vans or buses and help parents through SMS to track the vehicles movement. The school could also have a central data that helps track the fleet of buses, he said.

Except for the device cost of Rs 7000, there were no recurring charges for the first year. In the second year an annual fee of Rs 100 would be charged by Vodafone. Except for the device, there was no need of any hardware or software.

The company has already tied up with car dealers for fitting of the devices.
Currently Tcop was available only in Karnataka but plans were on to roll it out in other states as well and to offer a roaming package facility for inter-state tracking.

iTrans was also in talks with schools and government bodies for deploying the device. It would also look at tying up with law enforcing bodies to deploy the device.
The company aims at a turn over of 7000 units by end of the fiscal. Currently, it had deployed the device on 600 vehicles including some school buses.

The device was designed indigeneously and produced in a facility in Mysore and packaged in Bangalore. The device comprised some imported components, he said.
iTrans also had three more products lined up for launch including, energy cop to track power theft.