Number Plates News

Mobile Phone Assists Used Car Market Comparisons

16 March 2010

Leading motoring magazine and website, AutoTrader, has launched an iPhone application which recognises number plates. The technology allows you to use images captured on your iPhone camera to provide comprehensive details of the vehicle pictured.

In order to do this, the application uses exactly the same principles as those employed by a speed camera and can identify any standard number plate format. Armed with this information, it then accesses the AutoTrader's own database to establish the exact make, model and year of manufacture.

More significantly, you can then get a list of any similar vehicles available for sale on the AutoTrader's books so you can compare features and prices on the spot. Your phone can then even give you a map to direct you to alternative locations.

What is more, this potentially highly useful tool is currently available free of charge from iTunes stores. Auto Trader's Nick Gee says "Users will find the link between 'real world' and 'digital world' very compelling, providing a clear differentiator for mobile compared to other media."

However, whilst the principles behind the the data analysis are sound and innovative, all but the most committed geek would have to admit that camera interface is a pointless complication. The time taken to capture and process the image would be many times that required to simply tap in the registration manually in the first place.

Still, boys love toys and will, no doubt, rate the social kudos over any actual worth the device affords.