Here is a prototype of a remote start assist system that I built for my existing remote start system. I didn't want to pay for a new system, and I didn't want to pay a lot of money for the service. I'm currently using an old T-Mobile Blackberry. It has its buttons hooked up to transistors which are controlled by the Arduino. When the Arduino sees that the phone is vibrating (it's programed to only vibrate to my number) then the Arduino hangs up on the call, starts the car with my extra key fob, and then calls the user back.

The next stage I need to complete is taking this project from breadboard phase to its own circuit board. I want to swap the blackberry for a Sony Ericsson phone or something similar so I can control the GSM modem over serial AT commands.

Service costs:
$1 for sim activation kit (with about $3 minutes of air time on it) and it is good for 90 days
+ this project never accepts the calls, so no minutes are used
= around $0.33 a month, or around $4 a year.

I wish I could do this through texting, but I haven't found a GSM provider that provides texting rates that aren't outrageous for pre-paid.

Stay tuned for more updates!
-Mitch

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