HANOVER, July 7 — Remember the days of the CB, or Citizen’s Band, radio back in the 1970s and 1980s? It was mobile communication before mobile phones; and often used by truckers and long-distance drivers to keep one other informed of traffic conditions or hazards on the roads.
Well, this quaint form of communication is set to return, in updated form, with Voicr, a new app described as “CB radio 2.0” by its developer, German tech giant Continental Automotive Systems.
Previewed at the recent Continental TechShow 2017, Voicr, which is expected to be available after the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, allows users to communicate with each other within a radius of between 500m and 75km.
Unlike apps such as WhatsApp, Voicr can reach other users who are not in your contacts list.
This could be useful, for example, if you are caught in a bad traffic jam and want to find out how far up the road the congestion goes. True, you may not know who is on the other end of the line, but all you need is someone to tell you what to expect.
To communicate via Voicr, the user records a short voice message just as they would if talking into a CB radio. This message is automatically played over the other users’ smartphones when their Voicr app is running and they can respond accordingly by sending a short voice message.
Voicr also comes in handy when taking a road trip in a convoy. A closed channel group can be created, and all you need is a mobile data service.
A key advantage is that it is a voice-based system that plays automatically whenever a message comes through, so the driver can keep his eyes on the road and the hands on the wheel at all times.
Another innovation that Continental highlighted is its Remote Car Key, which the company hopes will eradicate the need for frequent travellers who have to wait a long time to collect the keys to their rental cars.
Developed with car rental company Hertz, the Remote Car Key can be used when you download an app from the rental company.
Once you complete the registration, you can enter preferences such as favourite radio stations or travel itineraries. Your destinations will also be stored in the car’s GPS system.
The vehicle will recognise your encrypted smartphone and automatically unlock its doors when you arrive at the lot.
Through the app, you can also check on fuel levels and tyre pressure or see if the car needs servicing.
In the case of electric cars or plug-in hybrids, the driver can also check on the battery-charge level and start the climate control so the car will be cooled to the preferred temperature as soon as the driver steps into the vehicle.
To return the car, all you need to do is park at the return lot, close the doors and walk away. — TODAY
