Motoring website Auto Trader has released an iPhone application that uses image recognition technology to read car number plates. The new app enables users to quickly search for vital vehicle information, making car-buying decisions easier. A user who sees a car they like the look of can fire up the app and take a photo of the number plate. From the number recognition technology, the app will return information about the car, including miles per gallon, typical price, and which dealers in the users area are selling similar cars. It also brings up users reviews from AutoTrader.co.uk to help people make more informed decisions, and uses GPS and maps to help users to find their way to the nearest showroom.
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, says Nick Gee, Director of Mobile at Auto Trader. 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 revealed that 45% of visitors to Auto Traders mobile site have used their phone to access further information about a car on a dealer forecourt. This figure increased from 40% last July, and is an emerging behaviour that has been a key influencer in the development of the App. Additionally, half of visitors to Auto Traders mobile site access it via an iPhone, providing a ready audience for the new app.
The Auto Trader App is available for free from the Apple App Store.