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Industry
Dossier
Webraska Takes on New Projects and Partners
Via national mobile telephony operators in France, Belgium,
the Netherlands, and Spain, French company Webraska helps users find the
best route to their destination, and informs them of traffic conditions
and travelling time. The company recently launched several projects and
announced new partnerships
The European Commission's Trans-European Networks for
Telecommunications (TEN-Telecom) initiative has awarded Webraska E650,000
to support deployment of Euraska, a cross-border, European-wide route
guidance service for mobile Internet devices. Webraska first deployed
Euraska in Paris.
Webraska demonstrated its Internet-Based Distributed
Navigation (IbDN) technology for the first time at the Intelligent Transportation
Systems show in Turin, Italy, in November. The system involves linking
the data on Webraska's Internet servers to an in-car terminal that can
also link to other applications and external databases. It can offer vocal
turn-by-turn directions that take into account real-time events, such
as traffic conditions and road changes. The system can send zoomable vectorised
street-level maps to many types of mobile devices. It performs enhanced
spatial searching and orders destinations to create the shortest possible
itinerary.
Webraska has signed partnership agreements with:
мебель для кухни . паркет . террасная доска
WirelessCar Sweden AB, Gothenborg, Sweden: Webraska
will add its personal navigation, real-time traffic information services,
and mapping services to the WirelessCar Application and Services (WAS)
server, which targets the automotive industry, fleet owners and managers.
CT Motion Ltd., Rosh Ha'ayin, Israel: With this partner,
Webraska will develop and market enhanced mobile location-based services
for wireless carriers and service providers.
Sagem, Paris, France: Webraska will develop Internet-based
distributed navigation services with this automotive electronics supplier.
SignalSoft Corporation, Boulder, Colorado, USA: Webraska
will interface SignalSoft's network-based platform with its navigation
services.
NovAtel, Thomson-Racal Sign on WAAS
Calgary, Canada-based NovAtel has signed a contract with
Thomson-Racal Avionics Ltd. (TRA) for the European Geostationary Navigation
Overlay System (EGNOS) and for the Remote Integrity Monitoring SystemC
(RIMS-C), the ground reference system provided by TRA to Alcatel Space
Industries (the EGNOS prime contractor) for EGNOS.
The hardware of NovAtel's EGNOS RIMS-C receivers is the
same as those used in the U.S. Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) and
Japanese MSAS (MTSAT Satellite-based Augmentation System), and the Chinese
SNAS (Satellite Navigation Augmentation System).
Analyst Predicts Telematics Explosion
The chief automotive industry analyst for UBS Warburg
LLC, a global financial services company, predicts that telematics will
become a critical customer relationship management (CRM) opportunity for
automotive manufacturers, and that telematics revenues will grow from
$4.2 billion in 2000 to more than $24 billion in 2005 and $47.2 billion
in 2010.
Drawing information from Europe, Japan, and the United
States, analyst Saul Rubin stated that "most of the value created from
telematics will be distributed among content providers, wireless companies,
and component suppliers, rather than the original equipment manufacturers
(OEMs)." His conclusions are detailed in a new study titled The Worldwide
Telematics Industry: Eyes on the Road and Hands on the Wheel, published
last month by the automotive technology team at UBS Warburg.
Most telematics applications involve some form of positioning
technology, often GPS, to enable the provision of relevant information
to the driver.
According to Rubin, telematics will move to an open architecture
(standardisation of software development protocols) system to allow consumers
maximum access to content and services. Rubin identified SmartMove, a
Leuven, Belgium telematics software developer and integrator, as a promising
example of this trend. A communication control centre (CCC) will act as
the conduit between the vehicle and service providers, offering billing
and security systems, and software protocols. The CCC will control access
to services and to vehicle information.
"Telematics ultimately will become a CRM tool, and as
such all OEMs will ultimately insist on products fully branded in their
names. We see [aggregators] potentially becoming anonymous operators longer
term, following an example set in Europe by Tegaron. . . . Telematics
offers the OEMs another mechanism to promote and enhance their brands.
Ultimately, telematics may become a price of doing business for the OEMs.
"
The study also predicts that Java-based operating systems
such as SmartMove's will predominate, despite the current leadership of
Microsoft's Windows CE for Automotive.
For more information about the study, contact UBS Warburg's
Equity Research Department at (212) 821 2609. SmartMove NV is at 35 Vanden
Tymplestraat, Leuven 3000, Belgium, +32 16 31 00 20.
ViaSat Launches the Internet Car
A joint venture between Fiat and Telecom Italia has announced
production of the "Internet Car," an aftermarket telematics platform that
will provide positioning technology with touchscreen interface for phone,
PC-based navigation, television, radio, and Internet access.
Viasat, based in Rome, Italy, was formed in 1998 by Magneti
Marelli, a Fiat division, and Telespazio of Telecom Italia. It recently
placed an order with SiGEM of Ontario, Canada for 10,000 ePING tracking
modules for this new product line. ViaSat will integrate SiGEM's ePiNG
modules in its Internet Car, which includes stolen vehicle recovery assistance,
accident detection and notification systems, traffic information, infotainment
and infomobility.
ViaSat's "Web on your dashboard" includes an integrated
terminal with PC, radio, telephone, satellite-derived location and tracking,
and an online "Drivers' Portal" that can function before, during and after
trips. It will provide georeferenced travel information and security features,
facilitate roadside assistance, and offer the possibility of sending email
and faxes and processing transactions from the car.
Emergency and security services are provided by ViaSat's
integrated GPS and GSM cellular network, assisting in case of accident,
medical emergency, breakdown, theft or carjacking attempt. According to
the company, Viasat is the largest GSM/GPS service provider in Europe,
and second globally, for infomobility, security, and assistance services.
Vehicle tracking in case of theft seeks to address a
significant problem in Italy, and, according to the company, insurance
carriers are already offering reduced rates to Viasat users.
Contact Dario de Marchi, VIASAT SpA, via S. Cannizzaro
71, 00156 Roma, Italy, tel +39 06 43988.270 - 300 - 371, fax +39 06.43988.311,
e-mail <>,
Internet <www.viasatonline.com>
.
FastraX Oy Gets Financing
Fastrax Oy, a Finnish GPS company, has completed a first
round of venture capital funding for its main product, reportedly the
world's smallest and least power consuming GPS receiver system. Fastrax
garnered E1.3 million from two venture capital firms and one industrial
company to help take its technology to original equipment manufacturers.
FastraX's Itrax02 receiver measure 25 3 25 3 4 millimetres,
roughly the size of a stamp. The 12-channel receiver consumes less than
100mW in continuous use, and is based on a two-chip solution developed
together with another Finnish company, VLSI Solution Oy. The module is
intended for battery-operated, handheld appliances. Its small foot print,
combined with ultra-low power consumption and low cost, make it feasible
for many new or developing mass-market applications.
FastraX designed its technology for small portable devices,
such as mobile phones, sports instruments, and handheld computers.
For further information, contact Kim Kaisti, Managing
Director, FastraX, + 358 400 107 186, email <>,
Internet <www. fastrax.fi>.
LOCELLUS
2001
Conference to Focus on
Cellular Location
Plans for an International Symposium on Location Based
Services Cellular Users, LOCELLUS 2001, have been announced by the German
Institute of Navigation (DGON). The event will be held February 57,
2001, in Munich, Germany.
Symposium topics will cover the following areas:
1. Technologies -- Network-based Positioning, Handset-based
Positioning; Role of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), Indoor
Positioning, GSM versus UMTS.
2. Applications and Services -- Emergency Call Services,
Transport Telematics, Road/Toll Pricing, Leisure Services, Location-based
Charging.
3. From Content to Service -- Internet (WAP)-based Services,
Responsibilities of Different Layers, User Interfaces.
4. Market Potential -- Market Analysis, Market Acceptance,
Public Authorities' Services, From GSM to UMTS, Market Mechanisms.
5. Standardisation and Regulation --E 911, E 112, Data
Security, Privacy.
6. Financial Issues Service -- Cost of Positioning, Billing,
Public Private Partnership.
A technical exhibition is also planned covering state-of-the-art
hardware, software, and trends of future developments. Systems and components
still in the development stage or commercially available may be presented.
Wolfgang Lechner, of Telematica, serves as chairman of
the program committee. Telematica was recently named to head a consortium
studying development of a European emergency call system.
The call for papers sets an October 27 deadline for submission
of abstracts of no less than 500 words. Abstracts, exhibitor inquiries,
and other information may be obtained by contacting the German Institute
of Navigation, Attn.: Symposium Co-ordinator LOCELLUS 2001, Adenauerallee
118, D-53113 Bonn, Germany; 49-228-20197.0, fax: 49-228-20197.19, e-mail:
<>.
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