ZipCar hire car firm offering iPhone bookings

ZipCar, the company that takes a different view to rental cars has just been approved by Apple for its iPhone application to go ahead. The firm offers cars by the day or some just by the hour, which makes it more convenient in some cases. Their latest gadget will now enable customers to find the locations of cars in their area book them and then drive off in them. The phone can also work as the key to the car unlocking the doors so that users can get in.

The company is special as they offer cars at certain locations across the cities they serve, not in an car park at their office. Customers have to be members of the firm and can hire vehicles at an hour a time. They have special credit card type keys that store information on them pertaining to that specific user. The customers then order the car they want online or via iPhone, travel to the car and place their card in the slot, to be ready to go.

With the new iPhone application customers can book the cars when they are travelling say on a train or walking along the street. Members that have left their card in the office or at home need not worry either as the application on the iPhone can act as a temporary card unlocking the doors and even making the horn sound if users are having trouble finding the vehicle. The new gizmo is sure to have some teething problems as it has just been rolled out, but the future is looking great for ZipCar.