There is a wonderful new auto rental business. You can look it up under the name Silvercar.
I already reported on car2go, which is vastly more extensive at this time and allows you to pick up a car anywhere in the designated cities and drop it off anywhere. Car2go uses smartcars and smartphones.
Silvercar Is available in five US cities. It uses Audi A4 new vehicles at airports. You reserve it on your smartphone and then go directly to get the car. No counter no nothing, you just drive away from the airport. You return it to the airport for a daily fee with the receipt on your phone (plus a charge for the amount of gas you used and a $5 fillup fee.). The gas usage is calculated based on a sensor.
This is a rather astounding feat of commerce that will be very popular and will have to be matched by the major American car rental companys.
It is available at the San Francisco airport.
We are rapidly getting new commercial benefits from our smartphones.