Smart Car from T-Mobile celebrates its second anniversary in the Czech Republic and enters the Polish market

The Smart Car service was launched in the Czech Republic two years ago, on 1 December 2016, and with the support of this service, Czech drivers make 5,400 journeys throughout the Czech Republic daily.

Installation of Smart Car is fast and easy: Users just need to download the Smart Car application to their smartphones and insert a device with a SIM card in the OBD port in their car. The application will guide the users through the installation and creation of an account. The entire installation is very intuitive and is finished within a few minutes. The device then sends information about, for example, driver behaviour, location, malfunctions, theft or towing, battery level and security to the application on the mobile phone, which the device reads directly from the vehicle.

The OBD port gives drivers satisfaction

On 18 December 2018, following two years of operation of the Smart Car service in the Czech Republic, Deutsche Telekom launched this service on the fourth European market – in Poland. If car owners want to know whether their children exceed the speed limit when borrowing their parents’ car, if all vehicles from their car fleet are already parked in garages or if they do not want to waste time looking for their car in a parking lot, they will find a solution in the Smart Car service. “Drivers most appreciate the simplicity of the entire solution, as truly anyone is able to put it into operation. Drivers appreciate the greater degree of vehicle security and they have overall awareness of what is happening with their often second most valuable asset. They have a whole range of things under control: they learn something about their driving behaviour, they can keep tabs on all journeys, which the application shows on a map. They also know how many kilometres they have travelled and how quickly, including the average and maximum speeds,” says Otakar Mráz, Senior Manager of DT Connected Car Hub, whose team is in charge of the introduction of the product throughout Europe. The functions appreciated by users also include indicative malfunction diagnostics, car battery level check and notification of low battery level as well as notifications of vehicle towing, vibrations, device removal or departure from a designated area.

A number of new features helped to expand the use of the service: the launch of a version enabling the creation of an in-car Wi-Fi network and an assistance service included in the price, which includes assistance, vehicle towing and provision of a replacement vehicle in the Czech Republic and the other EU countries. “Customers often share their experience with us and we are glad for that, as it helps us a lot. Entrepreneurs greatly appreciate the simple trip log with differentiation of private and business trips, when the application provides them with an ideal basis for their car-fleet driving records. But there has also been a case when, thanks to a notification of vibrations of a parked car, the driver was able to reach the vehicle in time, surprised the thief and prevented the theft of his car,” says Otakar Mráz, adding that in the coming year, the company is planning to introduce new innovations that respond to users’ requirements.

Interesting operating figures

Statistics show that, surprisingly, most journeys take place around 8:00 p.m.; the other peak times are 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. An average journey is 17 km long and half of the journeys are shorter than 6 km. Throughout the Czech Republic, Smart Car users make 5,400 journeys a day. The average model year of vehicles with an installed device is 2010; the oldest car with an OBD port is from 2001. The most widely represented car makes are Škoda (29%) and Volkswagen (16%), with Ford placing third with 9%. The car makes represented also include a Rolls-Royce, a Maserati and a Maybach.

Smart Car timeline

Partners

The Smart Car service was developed by T-Mobile Czech Republic in cooperation with Mojio. The service is based on a durable OBD port, which is extremely easy to use, and the Smart Car application, developed by T-Mobile in partnership with the Canadian-American company Mojio, which was recognised in the recent Deloitte Technology Fast 50 competition as the second fastest growing start-up in Canada. T-Mobile also launched pilot sales of Smart Car Wi-Fi with the insurance company Direct: if customers sign or extend their compulsory third-party liability insurance contract with this insurance company and their vehicle is compatible, they can purchase the service at a discounted price.

More information about the Smart Car service can be found at https://www.t-mobile.cz/chytre-auto

T-Mobile Czech Republic, a member of the international telecommunications group Deutsche Telekom, has almost 6.2 million customers, the number-one operator in the Czech market. T-Mobile is an integrated operator: in addition to telecommunications services, it offers comprehensive ICT solutions not only for companies, but also for other organizations and individuals. It provides outstanding services in the high-speed network, which was proved repeatedly by benchmark testing performed by umlaut (former P3) with Best-in-Test seal.

T-Mobile Czech Republic places emphasis on taking a responsible approach to the environment and society. It adheres to fair business practices, helps beneficial applications and services to see the light of day, supports non-profit organizations, small businesses and individuals, and lends a helping hand whenever crisis situations arise. The company’s employees serve as volunteers in many places across the entire Czech Republic.

More information about the company is available at www.t-mobile.cz, www.t-press.cz (the portal for journalists) and www.t-mobile.cz/pomahame (information on the company’s CSR activities).

Contact details of the press unit: press@t-press.cz.