Delphi Automotive Systems Offers Hands-Free Mobile Multimedia Products To Help Minimize Distractions

TROY, Mich., July 9 Delphi Automotive Systems' Communiport(C) mobile multimedia product line is a selection of products for original equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket that feature hands-free, two-way communications. Delphi offers telematics, smart radios, and cellular phone/personal hand-held computer technologies all with voice recognition systems to help limit driver distraction. "With consumers spending 26 billion hours a year commuting, their vehicles become an extension of work and home where they are electronically connected," said Dave Wohleen, executive vice president of Delphi Automotive Systems. "Americans want the same communications connections in their vehicles and they want to spend their commute time productively. We are designing our mobile multimedia products to help them achieve that objective with their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel." Delphi has offered voice recognition systems since 1996 beginning with the hands-free telephone for Cadillac and in 1997 with its telematics units. The telematics units include a cellular phone module and a GPS system that provides two-way voice and data communications exchanges between the vehicle and a service center. Services include crash notification, voice navigation, remote lock or unlock, emergency calling, roadside assistance and concierge services. Delphi is currently the market leader in supplying telematics hardware. Delphi's smart radios systems have innovative features that bring new communication capability and information into the vehicle. The radio system offers a full-map turn-by-turn navigation system, e-mail, Internet access, voice memo an integrated hands-free telephone and address book. All of the features are available through voice recognition and features text-to-speech technologies to read messages. In addition, the system uses voice recognition to dial numbers in the address book. Displays on the system are designed to be inactive when the vehicle is in gear to prevent drivers from trying to read information on the screen while driving. Delphi MPCpro (Mobile Productivity Center) is one of the first mobile systems on the market to use a continuous voice recognition engine that recognizes a series of alphanumeric digits as opposed to single digits. This new electronic device is designed to keep busy people connected in their vehicles by docking a cellular telephone with a Palm personal hand-held computer. This allows users to access the information in the personal computer via voice recognition and text-to-speech. Through its text-to-speech capabilities, the MPCpro can read information from the Palm's "To Do" list, "Memo Pad" and "Date Book." The MPC can also retrieve telephone numbers from the Palm's address book and dial them automatically by voice commands. The unit features one-button activation with all other functions performed hands- free. As a safety precaution, the Palm display is inactive while driving. "Our human machine interface team and designers are working hard to improve product interfaces so that drivers perform their primary task of driving the vehicle," Wohleen said. "Voice recognition, steering wheel controls, head-up displays and easily read displays contribute to improving driver focus." For additional information about Delphi Automotive Systems visit our virtual pressroom at http://www.delphiauto.com/vpr.