Last month, Mercedes-Benz partnered with Hughes Telematics on a new line of mobile solutions, dubbed Mercedes-Benz mbrace. The system connects the mbrace-equipped Benz with the app installed on your iPhone or Blackberry.

It allows you to lock and unlock your car doors remotely, find your car using the map function, contact roadside assistance, or get in touch with a local Mercedes dealer. The user launches the app and must enter their pin every time (for obvious safety reasons) to use the functions.

You can also manage your account with M-B, and make a payment (editors note: not the most useful feature).
The ability to confirm that you've locked  your door from your home, mall, office, etc. is pretty dope. Also being able to unlock it from miles away to let someone grab something you left in the trunk (hypothetically) is also dope.

Got wasted and don't remember where you left your car? That map comes in handy.

The future updates to the app could see the addition of some diagnostic information and other lifestyle integrations including music, messaging, voice activations, etc... Mbrace comes standard on MY07 and later S-Class and CL-Class, MY08 and later C-Class, MY10 and later E-Class and GLK-Class.

Older Benz' 1999 or newer all all eligible for the mbrace system upgrade and non-iphone/blackberry users may see another version ported over for their OS, but given the market share Apple & RIM control of all M-B owners, it is not in the short term. The only feature that would make it even better would be a keyless option to start and drive the vehicle. Keep your fingers crossed that you're iPhone battery doesn't die, or just keep a real key handy.

Note: The vehicle must be within 1 mile of the user to be located in order to prevent improper use of this feature.