Inventor's iPhone idea cuts out fines

Tags:London Congestion Charge| Driving into London | Asset Monitoring | Feature | Fleet Management | GPS | infotainment | Intelligent Safety | Navigation and Location | telematics | Telematics Detroit | Wireless Connectivity | Location Based Services

A MILTON Keynes businessman who kept getting caught by London's Congestion Zone charge has come up with an innovative iPhone application that could save drivers a fortune.

Milton Keynes Citizen, Thursday 10th September 2009, by James Chard

Richard Harris, 35, has devised a system that alerts a driver's iPhone when they enter London's Congestion Zone and reminds them again if they forget to pay.

The budding entrepreneur said he was fed up with the £60 fines he was clocking up and reckons the application will save drivers' time and money.

Richard, who fronts AutoAlert Ltd, said "I am in and out of London all the time and got caught out so many times I thought there must be something that can be done.

"Our system uses vehicle tracking and the GPS technology on the iPhone. When you turn the system on, it sends a message to our system which works out where you are and if you go into the Congestion Zone we send you an instant message.

"You can also pay using the application if you have registered to pay by text. People usually don't know if they are even in Congestion Zone and if they are they usually forget to pay so our application makes things really simple."

Richard studies an MBA at Cranfield School of Management and also worked in the City as an investment banker.

And he still uses the University's extensive resources for testing and research.

He is hopefully his technology will now be used around the world.

Richard added "We are looking to add an application that alerts you when you enter the London Low Emission zone in London and the scheme might also be launched in Milan where they also have a congestion charge.

"And then as soon as a congestion charge pop up at other cities around the world, we can just add them to".

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For further information, check out the Congestion Charge Check and Remind Website at http://www.nocongestionchargefines.co.uk

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