telematics

App gives Mercedes-Benz owners an out-of-car experience

A new iPhone app is giving Mercedes-Benz owners care and attention from the luxury automaker even when they aren't in their cars. Mercedes-Benz's telematics service provider, Hughes Telematics, has released version 2.0 of its mbrace iPhone app, which lets users ask for local recommendations through a concierge service in their cars or just walking down the street.

Many automakers offer some sort of telematics service, the most well-known being GM's OnStar. And most of these services let users contact an operator through an in-car connection and ask for directions, roadside assistance, or recommendations for local restaurants … Read more

Texas to be U.S. transportation testing ground

Texas is about to become IBM's test subject for a series of telematics transportation technologies with the blessing the U.S. Department of Transportation.

IBM Chairman and CEO Sam Palmisano plans to announce the news in Houston on Wednesday at the 20th annual meeting of the Intelligent Transportation Society of America (ITSA 2010), along with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and Texas Transportation Institute Director Dennis Christiansen. The partnership between IBM and Texas will closely follow the federal intelligent transportation research agenda put forth by Secretary LaHood and the Obama administration.

LaHood announced Tuesday that the Department of Transportation is offering $775 million for transit agencies across the U.S. to upgrade their bus systems, … Read more

Toshiba introduces 200GB hard-drive for automotive applications

Solid-state memory-based systems like the one we saw in the 2010 Hyundai Sonata may be the future of in-car navigation and infotainment technology, but there's still a lot of life left in the trusty spinning platter hard-disk drive. To this point, Toshiba has just announced a new 200GB hard drive for automotive uses.

Storage geeks and techies will no doubt be interested in the high-density, single-platter design and the rugged, automotive-grade construction that can withstand operating temperatures of -30 to 85 degrees C (-22 to 185 degrees F) and delivers high levels of operating shock resistance and enhanced vibration … Read more

IBM sees overhaul coming for trucking industry

Fuel efficiency is the No. 1 factor in equipment purchases within the trucking industry, a new report from IBM says.

At the same time, brand name has fallen to the bottom of the criteria list and "faces the risk of slow death," according to the report.

The combination of those two factors means that new players in the trucking industry will give established brands a run for their money.

"The truck ecosystem will thrive because of--rather than in spite of--a chaotic introduction of new players," the report said.

"Truck 2020: Transcending Turbulence," which came … Read more

Challenges travel with OnStar to China

SHANGHAI -- Imagine a driver from Guangzhou has an accident. He calls OnStar, but the Mandarin-speaking OnStar staffer doesn't understand Cantonese, the dialect spoken in Guangzhou.

"You can't plan and design a system to cover 1,000 different dialects," says Jonathan Hyde, director of telematics for GM China Group. GM assumes that most car buyers will speak Mandarin, the dialect taught in China's schools.

Hundreds of local dialects are just one challenge General Motors faces as it prepares to launch OnStar in China. But the chance to be the first to offer such services in the world's fastest-growing automotive market trumps any trepidation Hyde might feel.

"It's fun," he says of his job. "This is all a huge opportunity."

… Read more

68: Honda does what it said it wouldn't!

Honda goes hybrid crazy, a new internet domain just for cars, the biggest impact on traffic you never thought of, and a ride in a rare Editor's Choice car. Listen now: Download today's podcast

OnStar attempts to stay relevant

GM announced two new services for OnStar this week, one that involves a partnership with MapQuest, and one for people who can't program a DVR. With the MapQuest partnership, called OnStar eNav, users will be able to find destinations on the MapQuest Web site, then push a button to have the destination sent to their cars. This service should come in handy for people planning vacations or needing complex routes, and signals OnStar's foray into the Web-enabled world. To use eNav, you will need a vehicle equipped with OnStar turn-by-turn navigation. The second service, OnStar Destination Download, requires … Read more

Mercedes to get its own version of Sync?

Earlier this week, we told you how Mercedes-Benz had followed in the footsteps of its estranged partner, the Chrysler Group, by announcing a partnership with Hughes Telematics for all future models. At the time, Hughes confirmed that its service is scheduled to replace Mercedes' current Tele Aid system in late 2009 but declined to give any specifics on any of the features it would include. Well, thanks to the industrious gearheads over at Edmunds, we now have a clearer idea.

According to their report, the new telematics service will include all the emergency and roadside assistance features associated with GM'… Read more

Hughes Telematics coming to Mercedes-Benz models

Mercedes-Benz today followed in the footsteps of its estranged partner, the Chrysler Group, by announcing a partnership with Hughes Telematics for all future models. Starting late 2009, Mercedes will replace its existing cellular- and satellite-based Tele Aid service, which provides drivers with emergency aid, roadside assistance, and information, with an upgraded service supplied by Hughes. Details on what the new service will include are still sketchy (apparently we will know more at next month's Consumer Electronics Show), but today's announcement made an interesting reference to the availability of "infotainment" features, which suggests that it will go … Read more