By Colby Horton
Shop Site of the Month
Fantastic Finishes of Palm Beach - Royal Palm Beach, Fla.
www.fantasticfinishesofpalmbeach.com
This site offers a vehicle status mechanism, allowing customers to view photos of their vehicle as well as comments from their service adviser. In addition, insurance companies can use the service to check on clients' vehicles. An online form to schedule an estimate or rental car is also available. Customer testimonials and a shop tour give the shop online credibility.
Web Wise
Satellite Television Invades the Telematics Industry
Since 1996, telematics have revolutionized our driving experience. If you're not familiar with the term, telematics are mobile electronics products that wirelessly connect vehicles to customized information and services. At first, telematics included in-vehicle navigation systems such as OnStar. It has recently been expanded to include satellite radios, streaming hundreds of commercial-free radio stations into vehicles.
But the telematics industry is continuing to grow exponentially, due in part to the success of backseat entertainment systems. In 2002 alone, more than 1 million of these systems were sold. In fact, almost every 2002 SUV and mini-van offered these systems as options.
KVH Industries has now changed the overall use of in-vehicle entertainment systems. These systems, which traditionally played DVDs or videocassettes, can now be equipped with the company's new TracVision in-motion satellite TV antenna. With this antenna, vehicles can receive more than 300 channels of satellite television entertainment, offering news, sports, movies and business updates.
The new TracVision incorporates a technology that allows the in-motion antenna to stand only 4-1/2 inches high. The antenna uses a phased-array design that integrates hundreds of small antenna elements across a flat surface. The antenna is placed on its side and tilted slightly, remaining pointed at the satellite in the southern sky, regardless of vehicle motion.
In addition to watching satellite television, users of this system can also receive more than 50 channels of commercial-free music. With the technology already there, the TracVision system is expandable in the future to provide access to high-speed Internet access via satellite.
Drivers must remember their foremost responsibility when driving. Safety should never be compromised for telematics technology.
Net Numbers
Almost 50 percent of full-sized SUV owners plan to buy video systems in their next vehicle.
Source: J.D. Power and Associates
ASA Web Ways
ASA Provides Easy Way to View State Legislation
Each week, summaries of state legislative and regulatory issues for mechanical and collision repair are updated in the Members Only area of the Automotive Service Association Web site (www.asashop.org). Content for the summaries is provided by the ASA Washington, D.C., staff, which regularly monitors state and federal legislative issues and regulations on behalf of ASA members and the industry. ASA recently implemented a redesign of this section, allowing members to search for legislation by state, giving members immediate access to important legislation affecting their state. To access the Members Only area, click on "Member Login" from the top menu and type your six-digit ASA member number into both the name and password fields when prompted.
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Net Worth is written by Colby Horton, ASA's electronic communications manager. He can be reached at (800) 272-7467, ext. 234, or by e-mail at colbyh@asashop.org.
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