Building on its iRadio system, Motorola, Inc. intends to deliver a server-based navigation application that promises to provide drivers with detailed, directional information, and real-time traffic and weather reports.

Motorola’s iRadio System is an in-vehicle telematics platform combining emergency call and roadside assistance with location-based services into one complete system. Advances in telematics will be realized with the launch of its server-based navigation application in 2002, said the company. It will store all of the routing calculations and large databases of data, including addresses, routing and traffic preferences, in the servers. With a wireless connection and the push of a button, a drive could simply download new information and applications as well as access personalized real-time information.

The Java-based navigation application will allow drivers to take advantage of the following:

• Web-based trip planning: Create a personal profile of addresses, trips, and preferences that can be downloaded to the iRadio system prior to entering the car.
• Point of interest searching: Locate favorite establishments from restaurants to banks. Information can be preprogrammed into the driver’s personal profile via the iRadio system Web site.
• Personal information management: Enables iRadio system to synchronize with PIM software and use personal information to navigate to appointments or addresses.
• Hands-free capabilities: Features includes voice recognition and text-to-speech capabilities.
• Infrared beaming: Beam in a destination address using a Palm device, Motorola Timeport pager, or other PDAs.

The server-based navigation system was developed through various partnerships.

• BCI Navigation provided the location tools, navigation engines, and cartographic software.
• Navigation Technologies creator of NAVTECH® digital map database for the North American market.
• InfoUSA.com and WeatherBank will provide the point-of-interest and weather information.