Automilez - mobile gps mileage logging

General:

What is automilez?

automilez is a mobile phone and web application that allows you to easily log and organize records of how far you drive your vehicle, mainly for business or tax purposes.

How does this help me?

It helps you to keep records of trips you take in your vehicle and the associated mileage, as well as save money at tax time.

Is it free?

Yes, the automilez iPhone application is free to install and use. We do offer some products for sale on the site including reports and analysis tools for your data.

Why is using automilez better than keeping track of trips myself?

Drivers are usually required to keep a manual "pencil and paper" logbook of mileage, times, dates, and destinations that can become burdensome and reduce productivity. We solve this problem by reducing it to a simple start/stop automatic logging process using your mobile phone's GPS system. And when it comes time to produce a reports or analysis of all of your trips, we can help on that front too.

Who's eligible for these savings?

From a tax deduction perspective, small business owners and those who are self-employed stand to benefit the most from automatic mileage logging. At the same time, anyone who needs to keep a mileage record (for expensing business trips, for example) will enjoy logging trips with automilez.

Who made automilez?

automilez was designed and developed by RED Method, Inc. We are a privately-held software and user interface design company in Austin, TX.

I have ideas for the next version. Who should I talk to?

We'd love to hear your feedback! Please use our Contact Us form or email us at support@automilez.com.

Can I rely on automilez for correct tax information?

We're not tax advisors, so we recommend that you get the assistance of a tax professional when preparing your taxes.

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Requirements:

Can I use automilez with a first-generation iPhone or an iPod Touch?

At the moment, we only provide support for the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS, because automilez uses GPS as an integral part of the logging process.

Can I use automilez with my Blackberry/Android/Nokia/Palm Pre device?

We do not provide clients for these platforms yet, but we hope to in the future.

Can I use the app indoors?

Generally, trip data will be more accurate outdoors. For best results, start and end trips while entering and exiting your vehicle on the roadway.

What if I'm out of the network coverage area or passing through a dead zone?

Some features of automilez require network access. These include starting and ending trips, and signing in. The applicaiton will inform you if you've left network coverage. However, your tracking and logging data are kept intact even if you leave the network area, and your trip will resume successfully once the network returns.

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Sign-in/Account:

Why do I have to sign in?

We store your trip data on our web server, associated with your unique automilez account so that we can provide you with records and analysis of all of your trips for the year or beyond.

Where do I get a username and password?

After installing the application on your mobile phone, launch it. From the home screen, click "Create Account" and follow the instructions. After entering your email address and creating an account, you will be prompted to check your email address for a password. We recommend you print this password or store the email message for reference purposes. Your username is your email address.

I uninstalled the app or forgot my password. How can I recover my password?

We don't currently support an automated password recovery process. Please contact support@automilez.com for help with recovering your password.

My username and password aren't working - what should I do?

Double-check that you are using the same email address you entered when creating an account, and check that your password is correctly entered. If you still have trouble signing in, you may be out of the network coverage area or the automilez server could be temporarily down for maintenance.

Why does the app say another user is in the middle of a trip when I try to sign in?

If multiple accounts are being used on the same mobile phone, automilez will detect this and prevent open trips from overlapping with new trips. Sign in with the other account and end the open trip. Then click on the "Settings" tab and then the "Sign Out" button, and enter your email address and password. You should be able to sign in.

I don't want to sign in automatically. How do I sign out?

From inside the application, click the Settings tab and then the "Sign Out" button in the navigation bar.

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Starting a Trip:

Where and when should I start my trips?

Ideally, you should start an automilez trip in a location that has both network (3G or EDGE) coverage, and good reception for GPS. This usually means being outdoors. The best time is usually as soon as your vehicle is out of the garage and on the roadway, or as soon as you start your vehicle if you're parked on the street.

Starting a trip causes a "Connection failed" error. What does this mean?

This means that since you signed in, your mobile phone lost access to network coverage. Wait until you are back in the network area and try to start your trip again.

Can I start multiple trips at once?

No. automilez is configured to log one open trip at a time per device.

Can I start a trip without network connectivity or in a dead zone?

At this time, we don't support this feature. Make sure you are within the network coverage area when you wish to start a trip.

Can I set details about my trip before starting it?

No. Once a trip is started and you are logging mileage, you are free to add and edit details using the "Trip Details" screen. These details will apply to the entire current trip no matter how far into the trip you are when you edit them.

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During a Trip:

Does automilez run in the background?

Like all App Store applications, the iPhone version of automilez doesn't run in the background.

Do I have to leave the app running to track my mileage?

No. Feel free to close the application and relaunch it later on when you need to end a trip. automilez will estimate the likeliest route of travel during the period where the app was closed. With that said, leaving the app running will dramatically increase the accuracy of your trip logs, and likely increase the amount of money you can claim as tax-deductible.

What if I get a call during a trip?

Taking a call during a trip will not alter or end the current trip, and it will be resumed automatically after your call is over and the automilez app is relaunched.

Can I close the app in the middle of a trip and continue it later?

Yes! In fact, we expect that this will be the case for many trips. Feel free to use your phone as you wish with the confidence that your trip data is stored and automilez is ready to continue GPS logging as soon as you relaunch the app.

I set my phone's Date & Time manually. Can I adjust my phone's time settings in the middle of a trip?

We strongly recommend that you avoid changing your Date & Time settings manually during a trip. This could cause a number of errors with your trip data or prevent you from ending your trip accurately. The easiest way to avoid this is to allow your mobile phone to set the Date & Time automatically.

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Trip Details:

Where did you get the dollar amounts for each deduction type?

The dollar amounts in the application were derived from the current IRS deductible values for U.S. federal income tax.

Can I add other entries in the "Purpose" area?

We don't support this feature, but we would love to hear your ideas for new purposes in the next version!

How much text can I put into the "Notes" area?

Currently, you should be able to enter as much as you like.

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Ending a Trip:

Where and when should I end my trips?

End your trip whenever you want to stop logging mileage. Even if you are off network, automilez will respond correctly and store your position for later sending to the server.

I ended my trip accidentally. Can I restart it?

No, we don't support this feature at this time.

Something about my trip looks wrong in the Trip Log. How do I edit it?

You can edit and manage trip logs in the user section of automilez.com

I tried to end a trip and now I see a screen that stops me from doing anything else and shows a timer. What should I do?

This means you were out of the network coverage area when you ended the trip. Your ending location was stored and if you leave the app open, it will automatically send your request to end the trip once you have network coverage again. The timer shows how much time has passed since the last successful server communication.

Can I close the app and try to end the trip later?

Yes! Upon restarting, automilez will attempt to send the stored data from the end of your trip. If unsucessful, you may still be outside the network coverage area and you should see a screen with helpful information.

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Trip Logs:

Where can I see all of my trips and how far I went?

Access and manage your trip logs on automilez.com. You also can receive trip logs via email after each trip. We recommend you configure a filter with your email service to allow each of these trip log email messages to go into a specific folder, or have a specific label attached for easy reference later.

Can I delete trips I don't want in my logs anymore?

We don't support this feature right now, but we may in the future.

I'd like a well-organized report of my trips and total deduction. Can you provide that?

Of course! There are a variety of reporting options available to you on automilez.com.

Can I edit my start and end locations?

We don't support this feature right now, but we may in the future.

Can I label locations with a name like "Home" or "Office?"

We don't support this feature right now, but we may in the future.

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Settings:

I don't want to get an e-mail after every trip. Where can I change this setting?

Inside the automilez mobile app, after signing in, click the "Settings" tab and select your preference under "Email My Trip Logs" and click "Save Settings" when you are done.

Can I get my trip logs daily? Weekly? Monthly?

Yes, these options should be available to you from the "Settings" tab of the application, under "Email My Trip Logs."

Can I change my username or password?

At the moment, we do not support this feature.

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