We first told you about Viper SmartStart back in January at CES, and then just last month, the BlackBerry application was released for download. Well this month, I'm going to take it one step further and give you a review of the BlackBerry SmartStart App, and how it works with the Viper alarm system in general.

The good people at Directed Electronics were nice enough to supply me with a Viper SmartStart alarm system to review. The alarm itself has to be professionally installed, and this was easily done by a local authorized Viper installer. I took my vehicle in around 8:30am, and I was called by 2pm that it was ready. It takes most of the day to have the system installed, so if you're planning on getting one, prepare to be without your car for most of the day. Once my system was installed, the installer gave me a demo of the system, and helped me set up my account and activate the SmartStart App on my BlackBerry Bold 9700.

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Back in January we first got news of the Viper SmartStart app for BlackBerry. The app lets you control a compatible Viper system in your vehicle and allows you to start the car, turn on/off the alarm and more. The system is now available for purchase with a MSRP of $299, and works with compatible Viper, Clifford and Python systems.

"After we introduced Viper SmartStart for the iPhone, we quickly heard from our dealers and customers who carry BlackBerry devices. They are just as passionate about their choice of smartphone and they have been anxiously awaiting Viper SmartStart for BlackBerry," added Simmons. "By leveraging their smartphone user interface, Viper SmartStart introduces a whole new value proposition to customers. From operating key functions on their vehicle without using their key, to remote unlocking if a family member is locked out of their car, to the most advanced vehicle security features ever available, Viper SmartStart is truly creating a new paradigm for the future of the remote start and car security category." 

The app is working with the Storm, Curve and Bold series on release. For more information on the Viper SmartStart system, head to viper.com/smartstart. Check out the full press release after the jump.

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I've always been a big fan of the remote starter I had installed in my car a few years ago. Being able to start it up from my living room in the heart of winter is a great thing. When I saw the rumors on Viper SmartStart, I was excited to say the least. The app allows users to take their technology geekness to the ultimate level, allowing you to lock & unlock doors, pop the trunk, sound the alarm and start the vehicle all from a simple interface. The app will be free in BlackBerry App World, but the hardware for your car will set you back anywhere from around $300 to over $600, and after the first year the service will run you another $30/year. Some systems are already compatible with SmartStart, so you'll just need to get Viper's upgrade module (which will still cost you more than it should). As much as I'd love to rush out and get one of these hooked up, I think the price is a bit out of my range for the time being. I don't really see this being totally mainstream. While we'd all love to start out cars with a click of the BlackBerry, it just isn't likely that many will shell out the cash for system like this. Drop a comment and let us know what you think.

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