Personal Navigation Finally Gets Wheels

For nearly a decade, one highly anticipated application for M2M connectivity involved the burgeoning market segment of LBS (location-based services). Carriers debated the economics of pushing location content (restaurants, movie theaters, special events) to a user on his mobile phone. How much would the user pay, how would the information be delivered, what information is relevant, etc.? After nearly a decade of discussion, the industry is finally starting to see the emergence of LBS in personal navigation applications.

Companies like TomTom, Garmin, and Dash networks have all recently introduced personal navigation devices that accompany vehicles with access to maps with pertinent information on shopping, places to eat, local sites, and entertainment. Today the majority of these devices deliver content from an onboard CD and GPS (global positioning system) receiver. The inclusion of true M2M connectivity across the wireless network is the next major step in providing real-time, personalized information in vehicles.

So, are consumers ready to have their vehicle talk to them? For both consumers and businesses, the answer would be yes, but at the right price and with the right content. Some of the applications could be traffic information, updated and optimized for a specific location and time of day; communication regarding the status of the vehicle; and a host of value-added services targeted at in-vehicle operation.

But, where are the services? Certainly models like OnStar have opened up the possibilities and demonstrated a level of demand. As technology and content hurdles continue to be addressed making it easier to bring information in and out of the vehicle, carriers continue to be more intrigued by the mass-market possibilities. Legislation to limit the use of cell phones in vehicles also makes an impact here. Ultimately, communication with devices connected directly to the vehicle offers a safer and more effective way to travel. And it will be a mass-market reality in the not so distant future.