SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN MOTION

This article shows how the wireless communication revolution has become a potentially major force for change in the American car industry. Its leaders increasingly see 'telematics', vehicle-based wireless communication systems and information services as the new cutting edge of automotive innovation. According to consumer surveys, motorists wish to have as much interconnectivity in their vehicles as they already have in their homes and workplaces. They prefer features that increase drivers' sense of safety and security, by enabling them to call help in the event of an accident or breakdown, and help locate a disabled vehicle very accurately. Almost as highly rated are systems allowing drivers to communicate freely and access various information sources. In 1998, General Motors (GM) launched its OnStar service, which links subscribers to a response centre, where operators can call emergency help and provide travel assistance 24 hours a day. Its number of subscribers could reach 1M by the end of 2000 and 4M by the end of 2003. Several other car manufacturers have outsourced provision of telematics services to ATX Technologies, Inc., or another independent service provider. Bell Atlantic and GTE Wireless have agreed to offer US-wide wireless telephone service in 1M vehicles in 2000. Eventually, almost all vehicles made by GM will have voice-activated cellular phones.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/32663949
• Corporate Authors:

  UK and International Press

  Abinger House, Church Street
  Dorking, Surrey  United Kingdom  RH4 1DF
• Authors:
  • Orski, C K
• Publication Date: 2000

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 13-4
• Serial:
  • Traffic Technology International
  • Publisher: AutoIntermediates Limited
  • ISSN: 1356-9252
  • Serial URL: http://www.ukipme.com/mag_traffic.htm

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Attitudes; Automatic vehicle identification; Communications; Driver information systems; Drivers; Emergencies; Industries; Location; Perception; Radio; Safety; Telematics; Telephone; Vehicle compartments; Vehicle interiors; Vehicles
• Geographic Terms: United States
• ITRD Terms: 2267: Attitude (psychol); 8767: Automatic vehicle identification; 9098: Communication; 1772: Driver; 8763: Driver information; 2184: Emergency; 332: Industry; 1377: Interior (veh); 9061: Location; 2229: Perception; 6947: Radio; 1665: Safety; 8755: Telematics; 390: Telephone; 8122: USA; 1255: Vehicle
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00795167
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Jul 7 2000 12:00AM