Pontiac and GMC Offering the Latest in Car Audio Technology
7 September 2000
Pontiac and GMC Offering Consumers the Latest in Car Audio Technology
IRVING, Texas--Sept. 6, 2000--GM Partnership with i2Go and MP3.com a First in the Auto Industry
Bringing a premier music service provider together with a leading developer of technology for mobile audio devices, General Motors is offering Pontiac/GMC customers the opportunity to receive an eGo(TM) interactive digital audio player with the purchase of select vehicles. General Motors is the first automaker to bring digital music technology to auto consumers directly through a car purchase.
Through a special promotion, Pontiac/GMC customers in nine cities may receive a free "Sound Values" CD-ROM when they test drive the Pontiac Grand Am or Sunfire or GMC Jimmy or Sonoma now through October 15. The cities include Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, St. Louis, Kansas City, San Antonio, Austin, New Orleans, Memphis and Oklahoma City.
The free "Sound Values" CD-ROM features 16 songs from MP3.com's catalogue of hot digital artists. All of the songs can be played through a personal computer, while eight of the tracks may also be listened to using a standard CD player. The CD includes band pictures along with each song, as well as links to the artists' pages on MP3.com. The CD-ROM also contains interactive product information, video footage of the featured products and links to key Pontiac/GMC Web sites.
After the test drive, consumers will receive a special edition Pontiac/GMC i2Go eGo 64MB digital audio player when they purchase one of the featured Pontiac or GMC vehicles. The eGo is the first digital music player designed for use in a car, while doubling as a pocket portable. In addition to having memory capability expandable up to 12 hours of continuous, skip-free digital music, the eGo also has a voice recorder, e-mail text to speech conversion, external speaker and a full car kit. Not only can Pontiac/GMC drivers download their favorite songs with near CD-quality sound, but frequently updated news, weather, sports, stock quotes and other information can be synched to the player. Drivers may listen to their e-mail and respond via voice, sending audio replies back to the original sender through their personal computer.
i2Go created the special edition digital edition digital audio player specifically for the "Sound Values" promotion. The company also developed a co-branded interactive Web site with Pontiac/GMC where new car owners can download music and news programs and take it with them "on the go." Through a separate i2Go promotion, car owners can win up to a year's worth of car payments based on use of the Web site, www.PontiacGMC2Go.com
"Pontiac is known for innovative design and engineering that results in exciting products with outstanding performance, while GMC is known for doing one thing--trucks--and doing it well," said Sheila Powell, Regional Divisional Marketing Manager for Pontiac/GMC in GM's South Central Region, based in Irving, Texas. "Working with i2Go and MP3.com, we've combined Pontiac Excitement and GMC's focus to provide our customers with an innovative, quality car audio opportunity."
Customers interested in taking advantage of this special offer should visit their local Pontiac/GMC dealer.
"i2Go is pleased to join forces with these well-recognized brands to execute this exciting program," said i2Go CEO Sam Johnson. "Car buyers will benefit greatly from our combined offerings that let drivers take their favorite music with them on the go."
