BMW launches smart vehicle control remote app for Android smartphones

My BMW Remote app was launched back in 2010. But at that time it was only applicable for iPhone users, and BMW car owners using other than Apple phones, were not able to enjoy the benefits of the BMW Remote App.  Earlier this week, BMW has finally revealed the same app for Android operating system.
This app is free of charge and can be downloaded from Google Play store. It is similar to the iPhone version. Through this new app, car doors can be locked and unlocked through your smartphone, while climate control settings can able be adjusted so as to regulate temperature within the car cabin.

With the use of Horn Blow for sounding horn and Flash Light for switching on exterior car lights this application will be most suitable. The system of Vehicle Finder works for locating a vehicle parked out of sight and out of ear shot but is restricted upto a radius of 1.5 km. This system works in a way that the exact location of the vehicle will be displayed on the smartphone screen directing owner to his vehicle. However, this function is only suitable for a car with the ignition on off mode which makes its unsuitable to track the vehicle in case of theft.

Read the press release below for more information.

News Release

Smart vehicle control. Multifunctional My BMW Remote app now also available for smartphones with Android operating system.

Munich. The My BMW Remote app is now available for smartphones running the Android operating system, too. The application can be downloaded for free from the Google Play store (Android Market), and offers all the same functionalities as the iPhone version first brought out in autumn 2010.

My BMW Remote allows users to operate all manner of functions in their BMW from outside the vehicle, without even having to be nearby:

"Remote Door Lock & Unlock" allows the car to be locked and unlocked from a smartphone.
"Climate Control" makes it possible to control the interior temperature by adjusting the auxiliary ventilation and heating settings, and programming the systems by timer.

With "Horn Blow" for sounding the horn and "Flash Light" for briefly switching on the exterior lights, users can trigger acoustic and visual signals to help them find their vehicle in crowded car parks, for instance.
· If the car is out of sight and hearing distance but within a radius of up to 1,5 km, the "Vehicle Finder" function is able to display a map on the smartphone screen showing the way to the vehicle's location. This function is only available when the ignition is switched off, thereby making it impossible to track the vehicle's movements.

Finally, using Google Local Search, users are able to import points of interest (POIs) from their smartphone into the vehicle's navigation system via the message list.

"By extending our My BMW Remote app to Android devices as well, we are responding to the recent rapid spread of this operating system," explains Dr Eckhard Steinmeier, Head of BMW ConnectedDrive. "Google Android is the fastest-growing software platform for smartphones and tablets, so we are now delighted to be able to offer our customers the remote app functions on this operating system, too."

Both My BMW Remote apps can be used in conjunction with a valid BMW ConnectedDrive contract in all current models equipped with BMW Assist. The range of functions may vary depending on the model, year of manufacture and destination market. Customers receive detailed information regarding this when downloading the application.