Today, 31 January 2017, at a press conference hosted by CEO Jean-Claude JUCHEM and CIO Patrick HAMES at its head office in Bertrange, the Automobile Club du Luxembourg (ACL) launched a new smartphone app.
The smartphone app will be available to anyone, although some features, such as geolocation, are reserved for members only. It is available on iOS (not Apple watches yet, although this will come in a future release) and Android and is backward compatible to iPhone 4 (iOS 7.1.2) and Android versions back to at least KitKat (4.4).
The principal features are Mobile eCall, Traffic Info, Info & News and Membership Card management. eCall Mobile allows non-members simple access to the ACL central switchboard number tel: 26000, while members benefit from access to a priority ecall line and also transmission, if authorised by the user in the Membership Card section at the time of setup, of the precise location of the call, the membership details and even, if the user has recorded the information, all of the details of the car, including a picture, that will allow the ACL to optimise their treatment of the emergency, whether in Luxembourg or abroad (subject to mobile phone coverage). ACL makes it clear that the geolocation feature, where authorised, starts and ends with the call, this information is not tracked continuously.
Traffic Info displays a zoomable map which is kept up-to-date in real time from the ACL traffic information team and can include, depending on user preference, roadworks, traffic, accidents and speedcam positions. This information is available to all users, not just members. Info & News is also available to all users and displays all recent news published by the ACL.
Membership Card is only available to members and allows the member to record personal information, which is, of course, subject to Luxembourgish data protection laws as governed by the CNDP (www.cndp.public.lu) plus pertinent details of each of their cars, including make, model, colour, fuel, transmission type, VIN chassis number, preferred garage and a picture of the vehicle. This is Version 1.0 of the app and, while certainly a work in progress in terms of functionality and the user experience, it is a clear statement that the ACL is working to give extra value to its members and the general motoring public in Luxembourg.
The app can be found under “ACL App” in Google Play or the App Store or by scanning the QR code.
"Do not use your smart phone for this or any other app unless permitted to do so by current usage, road and traffic regulations" Photo (L-R): Patrick Hames, ACL CIO; Jean-Claude Juchem, ACL CEO
