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SmartPhone App allows motorists a glimpse of the future


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June 22, 2012: New Smart Phone App allows motorists a glimpse of the future for motor insurance Marmalade – the young driver specialist – has launched a FREE Smart Phone App that will offer all drivers a glimpse of the future for motor insurance.

Marmalade has developed the App to mimic the key features of the technology used for its Intelligent Marmalade scheme - which links driver behaviour to insurance.

Intelligent Marmalade is based on the principle that most drivers are careful drivers and in-car technology allows careful drivers to demonstrate their abilities and this can be rewarded by lower insurance premiums. By using this philosophy, Intelligent Marmalade has been able to reduce premiums for its target market – young drivers.

Many industry commentators believe that in-car technologies (known as Telematics) will play a role in all future motor insurance policies.

“We have developed this app to give drivers a glimpse of the future for car insurance. Until now the only evidence of poor driving is a crash or a near miss, now drivers will be able to review their journeys and eliminate any high risk driving,” said Nigel Lacy, Director of Marketing at Marmalade.

The App picks up the motion in the car and uses complex algorithms to display this as a score – the higher the score (out of 100) the smoother the car is being driven. The smoother the car is being driven, the safer it is and the insurance risk is lower

Based on the initial positive feedback, Marmalade believes the App will encourage drivers of all ages to examine their driving habits and skill sets. The App will monitor the motion of the car but not speed as it was considered that this would discourage use by people fearful of ‘big brother’.

None-the-less, if a car is being driven quickly the score will be adversely affected as the App will pick up harder cornering, acceleration or braking.

Drivers will be able to compare their Intelligent Marmalade App scores through Social Media and if they are driving smoothly their scores will improve over a period of time.

For more information on Intelligent Marmalade, the App or how scores can reduce premiums please visit Intelligent Marmalade

The App is currently available on the App Store and will be available to the Android and Blackberry phones soon. The functionality of the phone is not affected by using this App, but we do recommend that the phone is not used as movement could affect the score. The technology used for Intelligent Marmalade (not the App) does incorporate speed as a factor in determining risk.