By Colby Horton
Shop Site of the Month
Payne's Automotive - Houston, Texas
www.paynesautomotive.com
This site offers professional graphics and content throughout. What makes this site unique is the ability for vehicle owners to track the repair status through a password-protected area. Online estimates, Web coupons and Tech Tips make this site informative and valuable to visitors.
Web Wise
Looking to Buy a New Car? Think Telematics
The term may not look familiar, but you probably know some key components of telematics. Telematics refers to advanced in-vehicle communications and information technologies and services. Prime examples include vehicle navigation systems, satellite radio and Internet connectivity.
The Strategis Group forecasts that 84 percent of new cars sold in 2005 will have telematics available as optional or standard equipment. Telematics was an option on more than three million 2000 model-year vehicles. General Motor's Onstar telematics service currently leads the industry in terms of subscribers, with nearly a million users. It is estimated, however, that by 2005, telematics subscribers will exceed 17 million users, according to the Strategis Group.
The technology doesn't end at in-vehicle navigation systems. Cadillac is offering Delphi's Communiport system for its Seville and DeVille. This system adds an Internet-connected computer that is voice-activated. It has the capabilities to access e-mail and convert text to speech. The system will cost the buyer about $2,000 to install.
The telematics industry in the United States is slightly behind that of Europe and Japan. There, more advanced systems are available, including real-time services that warn drivers about ensuing traffic jams. The systems can even redirect drivers around these traffic jams by suggesting alternate routes.
Ford Motor Co. is attempting to advance the telematics industry in the United States. As technology develops, Ford plans to add full Internet surfing for passengers in their vehicles. The company also plans to implement satellite radio, offering 100 channels of radio programming. Other plans include remote diagnosis in which Ford will monitor a vehicle's vital operating systems and arrange regular maintenance appointments as necessary.
No matter how advanced telematics technology becomes, drivers should remember their foremost responsibility when driving. Safety should never be compromised for telematics technology.
Net Numbers
With equipment and service revenues, the telematics industry will be a $5 billion industry in 2005.
Source: The Strategis Group, Inc.
ASA Web Ways
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