# The technology of remote car starter apps
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-technology-of-remote-car-starter-apps/743277
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 15, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-technology-of-remote-car-starter-apps/743277 "2016-01-15T21:10:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [January 15, 2016, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-technology-of-remote-car-starter-apps/743277/1 "2016-01-15T21:10:34Z")
I got the impression that the hardware installed in your car for this includes what amounts to a cell phone receiver that receives a command from your phone via cell towers.
My co-workers insist there is satellite communication involved. That the command goes through my smart phone’s “data” system to a cell tower, up to a satellite and back down to a satellite receiver in my car.
Bonus question: do smart phone data communications travel by different routes than cell phone calls? I understand they’re not from one phone to another, but do they use anything other than cell towers and/or land lines? Oh, and let me exclude GPS signals from this – I understand that my phone can receive signals from GPS satellites.
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### Author:  [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)
#### Post date: [January 15, 2016, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-technology-of-remote-car-starter-apps/743277/2 "2016-01-15T21:19:15Z")
Onstar uses the verizon wireless cellular network in the US. I don’t know about the others. There are European regulations that state in effect that the cars need to notify emergency services in case of accidents. From what I understand basically every manufacturer has chosen to do this over the cellular network. I am not sure what year new cars in Europe needed to be able to do this.
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [January 15, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-technology-of-remote-car-starter-apps/743277/3 "2016-01-15T21:24:55Z")
So, no satellite necessary?
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### Author:  [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)
#### Post date: [January 15, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-technology-of-remote-car-starter-apps/743277/4 "2016-01-15T21:48:12Z")
None that I’m aware of. Most “smart” car remotes use the cellular signal to connect. Older types used RF.