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Focus on Electronics
Telematics from Ford, QUALCOMM
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Ford Motor Co. and QUALCOMM Inc. have created a new company to develop and deliver wireless mobility and information services to bring voice, entertainment, Internet access, and safety services into cars and trucks. Known as Wingcast, the new company will be a provider of telematics services to global consumers. It will work with the leading industry hardware, software, and content providers to offer in-vehicle applications to consumers. Ford Motor Co. cars and trucks will be the initial recipients of these newly developed products and services. Ford expects more than a million of its vehicles to be equipped by the end of 2002, three million by 2003, and virtually all by the end of 2004—with the level and depth of services increasing each year during that period. Nissan is also working to bring Wingcast services initially into its luxury vehicles.
According to Jac Nasser, Ford Motor Co. President and CEO, the two companies "are not only transforming the automobile into the next mobile portal, but also are creating a new company that will develop and deliver a collection of leading-edge technologies and services."
Dr. Irwin M. Jacobs, Chairman and CEO of QUALCOMM, added, "The wireless and telematics industries are at a pivotal point as we approach a new era of the wireless Internet. Beginning next year, evolved and new CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) cellular networks will enable high-speed, widely available, low-cost access to the information superhighway."
The combining of CDMA wireless technology with Ford's telematics and consumer experience will allow Wingcast to provide consumers with seamless access to applications and services including communication, information, navigation, entertainment, safety, and security—from their cars and trucks as well as any compatible mobile device or computer. Wingcast services will be available initially in North America over cdmaOne digital wireless networks. Advanced offerings using high-speed wireless data will become available as third-generation cdma2000 and WCDMA networks roll out.
One industry estimate from International Data Corp. predicts the telematics market will grow to $42 billion by 2010 from $1 billion in 1998. This and other estimates of growth for the market is why Wingcast believes that vehicles will soon become the fastest growing mobile platform for seamless communications and digital information services. Located in San Diego, Wingcast plans to introduce its first services in late 2001.
AEI September 2000
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