A new iPhone application released by a car rental agency in the US allows customers to find outlet locations, browse available cars and even unlock the doors to their chosen vehicle using the device. The Zipcar application uses the device’s GPS systems to find the closest outlet from the user, and then displays a range of cars on the screen that are available at that outlet.
When the user visits the specified location, the customer can walk into the lot and search for the car – which will beep its horn until the user walks within a certain proximity of the car, then unlock its doors.
The company designed the application, which was displayed at this week’s World Wide Developer’s Conference, after it learned that 25% of its members say they use their iPhone regularly every day.
Patrick Stafford is a freelance journalist and a former deputy editor of SmartCompany.
