Will You Soon Control Your Car With Your Cell Phone?

Soon, remote control won't be just for toy cars--at least according to one research firm. A new iSuppli report predicts that by 2016, 20.7 million real cars will ship with at least some systems partially controllable via cell phone apps, up from 85,000 in 2010. That's more than a quarter of sales worldwide.

Among the features subject to remote control will include door locks, lights, A/C and heat--similar to Delphi's concept iPhone app from two years ago. HVAC control will be especially important for electric vehicles, which owners can heat up or cool down while still in the garage and plugged in, so as not to drain the battery.

"The market for remote operation of car features is set to grow rapidly in the coming years," said Egil Juliussen, principal analyst and fellow for iSuppli's Automotive Practice, in a statement. "Car OEMs are planning to implement these systems across a wide range of car models as a standard feature, propelling the growth of the market."

The report said that both embedded telematics systems like OnStar, and mobile device systems like Ford Sync, will gain remote operation--joining Toyota, which already has its Japan-based G-Security system that lets you monitor your car's interior and movement from afar in the event of theft.