BMW->ke178 is spreading its technological wings by introducing a personalized smartphone application for its Roadside Assistance service in the U.S. This free, downloadable application is part of BMW’s Ultimate Service plan in the sport luxury marketplace. Of course, the application is only free within BMW’s warranty period. After that the application is subject to fees that are unknown by us at this time. The smartphone app is compatible with the iPhone, Blackberry, and the Android unlike Mazda’s->ke53 technology that will only work with the iPhone 3G and 3GS.

“The new, free smartphone application will find appeal not only with our core enthusiast customer but will also prove a valuable tool for any BMW driver requiring the services of BMW Roadside Assistance,” said Dan Creed, Vice President, Aftersales, BMW of North America, in a statement released to the media.

The application works by utilizing the smartphone’s GPS system to locate the owner and their vehicle wherever they may be stranded and will also automatically send the vehicle’s information including color, model, etc. to the BMW Roadside Assistance center. This application will also expedite the assistance due to the automatic exchange of information. Owners of BMWs with model years from 1975 and on will be able to take advantage of this system and if you have multiple cars, do not despair; the smartphone application can be shared with up to four cars.

Much more information was provided on BMW’s smartphone technology than Mazda’s Roadside Assistance application for the iPhone. The only aspect not found on BMW’s technology is updates on the estimated time if arrival for the provider. Mazda’s application also keeps you in the loop by informing you when three quarters of the time has lapsed and will confirm when the assistance has arrived.

Press release after the jump.

Press Release

BMW of North America, LLC today introduced a personalized smartphone application for its Roadside Assistance service in the United States. BMW Roadside Assistance is included as part of BMW Ultimate Service® with every new and Certified Pre-Owned BMW model, and is also available as a per-year subscription for older models. The free smartphone application, developed in partnership with Allstate Roadside Services, may be personalized by BMW owners and includes new functionality to enhance the overall BMW ownership experience. Unique to the sport-luxury marketplace, the new application is compatible with iPhone, BlackBerry, and Android™ operating systems.

Key features of the new application include:

- Compatibility with any registered BMW model in the United States (models from 1975 onward).

- Expedited handling of BMW Roadside Assistance requests.

- Automatic sharing of GPS location and vehicle details (color, model, etc.) between the BMW Roadside Assistance call center and the vehicle owner.

- Direct telephone access to BMW contact information, including authorized BMW Centers, BMW Customer Relations, BMW Assist concierge/emergency services, and of course BMW Roadside Assistance.

“BMW Roadside Assistance has always been a leader in premium roadside services for the North American customer,” stated Dan Creed, Vice President, Aftersales, BMW of North America. “The new, free smartphone application will find appeal not only with our core enthusiast customer but will also prove a valuable tool for any BMW driver requiring the services of BMW Roadside Assistance.”

After downloading the application, BMW owners will access a number of custom settings so that their BMW vehicle(s) are properly managed in the application. Currently, up to four BMW vehicles may be imported to a single installation of the application. Each vehicle may be nicknamed, a unique photo may be associated to each vehicle, and the Vehicle Identification Number and color of each are also stored by the application.

The new application is available at http://www.roadsidemobile.com/bmw/.