Hughes Telematics

"Chrysler vehicles will soon boast an unprecedented level of vehicle connectivity, delivering a wide array of important communications features directly to our customers, in their vehicles... Chrysler’s connectivity solutions will deliver simplicity, security, freedom and flexibility."

"Features coming to Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles over the next few years:

– Frank Klegon, Executive Vice President – Product Development, Chrysler LLC (1/14/08)

"You can get a state-required smog check from your driveway, download music without having to connect the car to anything and upgrade the software in your car without having to take it to a dealership... So the next time you buy a car it might boil down to whether the model you want has connectivity, Bluetooth integration, Internet navigation systems and multiple video screens."

– Brian Moody, analyst at Edmunds.com (1/4/08)

"Hughes Telematics has something OnStar doesn't: non-GM business and the probability of winning a lot more of it."

– Tom Murphy, Ward's Auto World (6/1/08)

"Hughes Telematics taps the car's onboard computer and relays vehicle vitals over a cellular connection. You can log in to the company's Web site anytime to review maintenance records or check status such as oil level, tire pressure, or even current speed when the kids take the care out. And you won't have to wait in line for a smog check. Hughes will issue automatic "OK" to the DMV if emissions are in order."

– Popular Science (6/08)

"Hughes Telematics, based in Atlanta, which will launch a telematics system in Chrysler LLC products next year, says it will be able to pull 77,000 different types of data out of a vehicle to share with consumers, the automaker and dealerships. The car also can use the data to diagnose itself. It might, for example, optimize its drivetrain and other automotive systems to suit the environment, be it the deserts of Arizona to the snowy roads of Alaska."

– Sarah Webster, Detroit Free Press (5/25/08)

"The Hughes system, under development for Chrysler, will have one of the most flexible voice activation programs now in existence. The program is so sophisticated it will allow the driver to go through and reply to e- mail, while keeping his or her hands on the steering wheel."

– Joseph Szczesny, Oakland Press (5/23/08)

"Hughes will use a voice recognition program from VoiceBox Technologies, which is more advanced than anything currently available in cars (see "Voice Recognition Closes In on HAL"). It can, for example, understand the context of a question like "What about Boston?" and correctly decide to whether to read back basketball scores, play music from the rock band or deliver directions to the city depending on the situation."

– John Quain, The New York Times (5/1/08)

"Atlanta-based Hughes Telematics is looking to bring it all together and improve on the current technologies ... At the top of the list, Hughes Telematics, like GM's OnStar, will focus on safety and security features, such as emergency help, tripped alarm notification and stolen vehicle assistance. The system will also update drivers on the health of the vehicle with maintenance reminders, recall notifications and diagnostic updates. Navigation systems, while a pricey add to new cars these days, have climbed high on consumers' list of priority options. Accordingly, Hughes is looking to take it up a notch with real-time traffic updates, recommended routes and scenic descriptions."

– Shawn Langlois, Marketwatch (3/20/08)

"Consumers love the idea of having directions and concierge services available at the touch of a button, but they are less than thrilled with steep monthly fees for the luxury of having the service available for occasional use. That's why Hughes Telematics will offer customers transaction pricing, so customers will pay for the services they need, when they need them."

– Edmunds.com (3/18/08)

"Hughes Telematics' DriveConnected plans to connect your computer and your car. Via a Web portal, you can configure Telematic's "Daily Reports" that cull personalized entertainment, news, sports scores and stock info for your commute, plan your route using real-time traffic data and set up to receive audible e-mails. The system lets you file emergency contact info (the name and number of your physician, for example) in case of an accident, and even sends emissions data to your state's DMV (with your permission, of course) so that you can be automatically mailed a smog certificate."

– Doug Newcomb, MSN Autos (2/08)

"Hughes has made us hopeful for the future of nav ... The company looks beyond the occasional trip and seeks to improve your daily commute."

– Chris Tutor, Autoblog (1/24/08)

"But these days automotive electronics are being more closely integrated with standard Web technologies. For example, the Hughes Telematics system will include a personal Web portal that lets people remotely lock and unlock their car doors, plan routes, check their auto's emissions and engine status, select music playlists and even monitor their vehicle's location."

– Brian Bergstein, Associated Press (1/8/08)

"Besides the advanced services, the system would have the more traditional safety and security features found in other in-car systems, such as GM's OnStar ... In terms of remote diagnostics, however, the Hughes system goes a step further by enabling car owners to go on the site and see whether the oil or tire pressure is low, or whether there is an engine problem that needs servicing."

– Antone Gonsalves, Information Week (1/8/08)

"Perhaps the most notable application is the 'teen tracking' feature. It allows parents to track exactly where their teen's car is at any point. It also keeps record of where the car has been and can even note the specific speeds the vehicle drove in getting there. Hughes Telematics says that the feature is above board and people know when they are being tracked, alleviating privacy concerns."

– Christopher Lawton, The Wall Street Journal (1/7/08)

"Next, Hughes Telematics will debut an OnStar competitor in the United States in 2009. 'You can get a state-required smog check from your driveway, download music without having to connect the car to anything and upgrade the software in your car without having to take it to a dealership,' says Brian Moody, an analyst at Edmunds.com."

– Brian Braiker, Newsweek (1/4/08)

"The Hughes setup will integrate turn-by-turn navigation, voice commands for phones and iPods, plus provide emergency and roadside assistance. Additionally, it will allow users to purchase certain features - from directions to songs from Sirius - on an ala carte basis, neglecting the need to spend extra cash each month for products you rarely use."

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