LoJack interested in buying IQEasy take out for market share at pennies on the dollar. Hmmmm Maybe that is why Pinetree loaded up?
Aftermarket/Stand-Alone Systems
Mobile IQ (by AirIQ)
Developed by AirIQ, Mobile IQ is a stand-alone vehicle recovery system that can be installed alongside either factory or aftermarket alarm systems. If your car is stolen, its alarm triggers the Mobile IQ transceiver unit inside the car, which notifies a monitoring center that your car has been moved. The monitoring center then contacts you via e-mail, text message, pager or phone (your choice). If you believe the use of your car is unauthorized, you must then contact the police with the car's location. You can track your vehicle on the Web, or the police can do so if you give them your login information.
Price: $499.99 for the product, plus $100 for installation (typically); more if you want additional features, such as remote start or remote lock/unlock (by phone or computer). First year subscription for vehicle recovery is free; after that, it's $100/year. According to Al and Ed's, if you want more features, both installation and subscription will cost more, but not the product itself.
How to get it: Mobile electronics specialists
Technology: GPS and cellular
Pros: Can be transferred to another vehicle (for a fee). Opens the door to myriad other customizable features.
Con: Cost.
Best for: Non-GM vehicle owners outside the LoJack area or those who want access to whiz-bang features.
Other brands of stand-alone vehicle tracking and recovery systems exist, of course, although several of them also use AirIQ technology and market it under a different name.
Zoombak
Mobile electronics specialist Haynes is bullish on Zoombak, a relative newcomer that doesn't offer fancy features but is uniquely portable. Let's say you go hiking or boating: You can remove the Zoombak from the car (only you know where it's hidden) and take it with you. If you get lost or need rescue, you can notify authorities — thus providing a measure of personal as well as automotive security. You can also use Zoombak to track your vehicle via Web or mobile phone if someone else is driving it. A plus: It can be charged from a cigarette lighter or a home charger.
Zoombak is on the low end of the price spectrum, but its Achilles' heel is that it will
not notify you if your car is stolen — potentially losing several critical hours or days before you report it stolen to the police. Once you do learn your car has been stolen, notify police and track your car from the Web, similar to Mobile IQ.
Price: $199 for the unit, $15/month unlimited use; installation recommended but not required.
How to get it: Electronics stores, automotive stores, online
Technology: GPS and cellular
Pros: Cost; portability, professional installation not required (though recommended); can be charged through cigarette lighter or at home; unlimited use plan, up to five days on one charge (according to manufacturer).
Con: No early warning system if your car is stolen.
Best for: People who want a unit that can travel with them; nervous parents; budget-conscious non-GM vehicle owners or those outside the LoJack area.
LoJack
LoJack is unique in the vehicle recovery business. An installer at the dealership hides a small radio transponder in one of 20 different places, making it difficult for thieves to detect or remove quickly. Once you report your car's vehicle identification number (VIN) to the police, the information is quickly sent to the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC). That database is cross-checked against LoJack's; if a match is found, a signal is sent to turn on the LoJack transponder. It then sends out a silent signal to local police vehicles and/or helicopters equipped with LoJack vehicle tracking units, which can hone in on it. Sometimes, the thieves are still near the vehicle and can be apprehended.
Price: One-time fee: $695 MSRP; $995 with an early warning feature. Like other dealer options, prices are negotiable.
How to get it: Sold as a stand-alone, dealer-installed option, usually at time of vehicle sale; LoJack trains dealer service technicians how to install it.
Technology: Radio frequency
Pros: Tied directly into NCIC crime computer and local police departments; 90 percent recovery rate; money-back guarantee if car isn't recovered within 24 hours.
Cons: Cost. Only available in 26 states and Washington, D.C. (those with the highest auto theft rates); subscription won't transfer if you buy or sell a car with LoJack already installed, nor can you remove it from a leased vehicle.
Best for: People who live within a LoJack service area who have expensive vehicles or collector cars to protect.