Aftermarket Insider Volume 64 - (Page 26)

MARKET RESEARCH lAtest AnD GreAtest Telematics Trendline: Following the Growth of Automotive Telematics B Y: DEREK KAUFM A n, C3 nE T W ORK, InC . Telematics Trendline is a series of monthly articles by Derek Kaufman, C3 Network, Inc., designed to inform AAIA members about the trends in telematics applications for both the retail automotive and commercial trucking industries. For the full May article, or for more of the series, visit www.aftermarket.org. gPs IIF On May 21, we will be entering the next phase of GPS accuracy when the U.S. Air Force launches the first GPS Block IIF satellite built by Boeing. Each IIF will transmit three civilian GPS signals versus today’s satellites that transit just one. This, coupled with militarylevel signal strength, should move the accuracy of a location from 15 feet to three feet and eliminate the loss of signals inside buildings or cities. The new technology will also allow aircraft autopilots to land planes in zero visibility situations. Moving toward the third generation of GPS accuracy has not been easy. The original government contracts were awarded to Rockwell in 1996 and changes like the L5 Safety-OfLife signal addition and others have strained the fixed project cost Boeing has had to live with since it purchased Rockwell’s satellite business. The first units being launched in May are nearly three times the original contract price, which will require Boeing to find some significant efficiencies in future production. gotta love It We had some wagers on how fast someone would adapt Apple’s new iPad to an automotive application. This video shows that it didn’t take long. The video is a little rough and ready but take a look to see ingenuity at work. (You are also watching the state-of-the-art in street-wise marketing here.) Our bet is that they will downsize that McIntosh amp, though. http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=rSnIXfoSU6I smart Phone We have participated in three different introductions of the new iPhone application for Daimler’s smart fortwo in the last few weeks. It has been very interesting to see what people value most in the long list of features the app contains. The smart car iPhone app docks your iPhone to your car radio system. It provides large layout screens to make function selection simple and offers some very clever features like its car finder which remembers where you parked, 411 Google search, turn-byturn navigation voice direction and one button connection with roadside assistance, which also provides your GPS coordinates to the roadside assistance provider. But at a recent smart dealer meeting, in the April New York Auto Show and at a private showing of the app in Silicon Valley, the number one feature of interest was the same – Internet radio. 26 | AFTERMARKET INSIDER | VOLUME 64 http://www.aftermarket.org/Publications/Telematics-Trendline.aspx

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Aftermarket Insider Volume 64

Aftermarket Insider Volume 64
Contents
President's Message
Knowledge Is Power
The Center of It All
Market Research
Association News
Member Profile
Toolbox
Campaign Update
International Focus
Technology Update
Company Profile
Inside Legislation
Market Research

Aftermarket Insider Volume 64