`StartMeUp' Gets a Jump on Dead Car Batteries

29 March 1999

`StartMeUp' Gets a Jump on Dead Car Batteries; Innovative New Product Revolutionizes Emergency Roadside Jump-Starts FUTURE LABS Future Labs and Polaroid have partnered to develop and manufacture StartMeUp, a palm-size emergency car battery jump-starter that enables consumers to recharge a drained battery from the safety and comfort of their own car. Unlike traditional jumper cables that use another car to recharge the battery, StartMeUp plugs directly into the vehicle's cigarette lighter and recharges the battery in about five minutes. StartMeUp costs $29.95 and is available at www.startmeup.com or by calling 1-888-StartMe (1-888-782-7863). (PR NewsFoto) [PH] PHILADELPHIA, PA USA 03/26/1999

    PHILADELPHIA, March 26 -- It's an all too familiar scenario:
You're running late for an appointment and dash out the door to your car.  You
turn the key in the ignition and instead of the familiar purr of the engine,
all you hear is clicking.  Your battery is drained.
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990326/PHF003 )
    Jumping a drained battery is an anxiety-filled experience that costs
millions of drivers valuable time and energy and, if done incorrectly, can
cause serious injury or damage to your car.  A new product offers a better
alternative.
    StartMeUp is a palm-size emergency car battery jump-starter that enables
consumers to recharge a drained battery from the safety and comfort of their
own car.  Unlike traditional jumper cables that use another car to recharge
the battery, StartMeUp plugs directly into the vehicle's cigarette lighter and
recharges the battery in about five minutes.
    "StartMeUp is a safety product," said Kyle Burns, President and CEO of
Future Labs, the Philadelphia-based research and product development company
that pioneered the product.  "It provides motorists with peace of mind knowing
that they will never be stranded with a drained battery again.  You wouldn't
think of driving a car without a spare tire.  By the same token, people should
have a device that allows them to jump-start their car from safely inside the
vehicle."
    Future Labs has partnered with Polaroid, the world's leading instant
camera and film manufacturer, to develop and manufacture the new product.
    "We are extremely excited to be partners with Future Labs and have the
opportunity to offer a terrific product that could help millions of drivers
around the world," said Craig Taylor, Vice President of Consumer Global
Ventures at Polaroid.
    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports more than
7,000 car battery-related injuries each year.  Jump-starting your battery
using traditional cables can result in burns to your skin, damage to your
vehicle's electrical system and even cause your battery to explode.
    StartMeUp eliminates the possibility of a jumper cable-related injury
because no jumper cables are required.  It is also environmentally compatible,
containing none of the dangerous chemicals such as lead, mercury or cadmium
commonly found in expensive and bulky rechargeable batteries.
    Battery Council International estimates that 72 million replacement
batteries were sold last year suggesting that millions of people a year could
find themselves stranded with a drained battery.  If it happens to you, the
alternatives are not promising: you could call a motor club (which could take
a while), flag down a stranger driving another car (which is not very safe),
or call a friend or spouse (provided you have a mobile phone).
    "StartMeUp eliminates the inconvenience, expense and danger that drivers
often experience with traditional jumper cables," Burns said.  "Also, it stays
fully charged for up to three years so you can just leave it in the glove box.
When you need it, it's there.  It's complete independence for any motorist for
around $30."
    Burns added that StartMeUp is completely disposable.  Once a consumer uses
it to jump-start a car, it can simply be thrown away.  StartMeUp will work on
all cars and light trucks, new and used, foreign and domestic, excluding
diesel engines.  The company is currently developing and testing other
versions of the product specifically for diesel engines and other
applications.
    StartMeUp is designed for a one-time use.  It is not rechargeable.  The
unit utilizes proprietary flat-cell battery technology coupled with an
exclusive electronic current regulator developed by Future Labs.
    When used properly, StartMeUp is guaranteed to charge a drained battery.
If the product fails to charge the drained battery, consumers will be
reimbursed for either the price of the jump-start service or the purchase of
StartMeUp (up to $30.00), whichever is less.  (If the battery is defective,
the vehicle's starter is malfunctioning, or if the battery is completely dead
(i.e., you turn the key and don't hear a clicking noise), professional service
may be required.)
    StartMeUp costs $29.95 and is available on the Internet at
http://www.startmeup.com or by calling 1-888-StartMe (1-888-782-7863).

    For further information, contact Amy Jackson of the Tierney Group,
215-732-4100, or ajackson@tierneygroup.com