DoCoMo and Nissan To Develop 3G Telematics Services
2/19/2002
BWCS StaffTwo Japanese giants, mobile operator NTT DoCoMo and car manufacturer Nissan, are teaming up to develop vehicle-based mobile multimedia services. The companies have launched a joint study into the feasibility of a host of telematics services that can be accessed seamlessly within cars and away from them. DoCoMo and Nissan intend to make their findings available to other service providers in an attempt to create an industry standard for mobile telematics services.
The telematics study will focus on the development of in-vehicle devices, information platforms based on DoCoMo’s 3G network (FOMA), multimedia telematics services and potential business models. Following the completion of the study later this year Nissan and DoCoMo will rollout a series of advanced telematics services in 2003. These will include location-based navigation services offering traffic information, weather reports, parking options and information on hotels, restaurants and other points of interest. Drivers could also be offered tailored location-based services offering digital maps of the local area with places or routes of interest to them highlighted.
From 2004 the Japanese telematics venture plans to deploy vertical telematics services integrating offerings from vehicle-related businesses such as garages, insurance companies and security businesses. Some of these will utlilise short-range local area networks to provide kerbside autopayment and even audio and video multimedia downloads.
