Auto Trader iPhone app ‘reads’ car number plates
- Added:
- Mar 16, 2010
Motoring website Auto Trader has released an iPhone app that uses image recognition technology to read car number plates.
The new app enables users to search for vehicle information, providing make and model records as well as figures around the car’s performance and economy.
Additionally, the application will allow users to search for information on similar cars and dealers in the area via access to the Auto Trader listings, enabling like for like price comparisons.
A user can be transported from seeing a suitable car on the roadside to finding a model for sale nearby and calling the owner for a test drive just by using the app.
The software also uses GPS and Maps to help users to find their way to the nearest showroom.
Nick Gee, Director of Mobile at Auto Trader said: “We believe users will find the link between ‘real world’ and ‘digital world’ very compelling, providing a clear differentiator for mobile compared to other media. Using the iPhone users can now search for real-time digital information relating to a car sitting in front of them, a step which combined with the depth of cars listed on Auto Trader takes the car-buying process to a whole new level.”
Research conducted by Auto Trader in January, 2010 showed 45% of visitors to Auto Trader’s mobile site have used their phone to access further information about a car on a dealer forecourt.
This figure increased from 40% last July; an emerging behaviour that has been a key influencer in the development of the App. Additionally, half of visitors to Auto Trader’s mobile site access it via an iPhone, providing a ready audience for the new app.
Nigel Vaz, Managing Director UK, SapientNitro, the company behind the app build said, “This app demonstrates how SapientNitro creates and architects exciting new customer experiences. By delivering traditional Auto Trader functionality and combining user-focused mobile design with impressive image recognition and geo-location capabilities, this app allows consumers to engage with the brand in a fresh way.”
