Convergence 2002 Asks: Will Telematics Catch On?

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 4 -- Amid the flush of new and exciting electronic technologies available for consumer use in vehicles, automakers are striving to pinpoint which services are profitable, yet still useful and safe for the driver. This year at Convergence 2002, industry experts from OEMs, suppliers and electronics companies will gather to discuss solutions to challenges like driver distraction while providing a glimpse of the future of telematics. "Everyone knows the automotive industry is anxious to establish telematics as a profit center in their business strategies. But how can this industry address immediate challenges like product compatibility and manufacturing while evaluating the driver's information load?" asks Bernard I. Robertson, senior vice president at DaimlerChrysler and chairman of Convergence 2002. "The purpose of this session is to investigate some solutions our colleagues have developed to address these needs, and how all players can work in concert to foster a thriving telematics segment."

John Slosar of Visteon Corporation and Razvan Olosu of Nokia will serve as chair and vice chair, respectively, of the session titled "Infotronics" on Tuesday, Oct. 22. The following papers will be presented and abstracts are presently available for review at www.convergence2002.org :

Effects of Driver Distraction Concerns and Legislative Trends on Infotronic Technology Deployment by Yosuke Aragane and Yakuri Tsuji, NTT Service Integration Laboratories Internet-based Infotronic Systems - Technologies and Markets by Thomas Bock, John Lundberg, Kevin Feather and Wieland Holfelder, DaimlerChrysler The Mobile Wireless Ether - Finding Its Way Into the Automobile by Paul DeVries, Michael Chrysochoos and Shraddha Kumthekar, Visteon Corporation Technology and Business Implications for Distributed Telematics Applications by Manfred Ender, Nokia GmbH Business and Technical Impacts of Open and Proprietary Architectures by Jim Ruthven, David Loose and Barbara Churchill, IBM Business and Technical Impacts of Open and Proprietary Architectures on Infotronics Systems by Michael Wuertenberger, BMW AG Portable and Embedded Wireless Devices as Conduits for Telematics Applications by Bob D'Avello and Jim Van Bosch, Motorola, Inc. Convergence 2002, the premier global automotive electronics conference, will be held October 21-23, 2002, at Cobo Center in Detroit.

Convergence 2002 will feature more than 75 technical papers addressing important technological, societal and business issues affecting the application of electronics in the automobile. Hosted this year by DaimlerChrysler, the 2002 theme, Transportation Electronics = Business + Technology + Process, addresses three important aspects of automotive electronics -- the product, the process and the business.

Convergence 2000 drew more than 9,000 attendees and 250 media from around the world. Exhibit space for the 2002 conference has been increased by 35 percent and will feature over 180 state-of-the-art exhibits, occupying two halls at the Cobo facility.

Convergence 2002 Gold Sponsors are DaimlerChrysler, Robert Bosch Corporation, Delphi, DENSO Corporation, Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, Motorola, Toyota Motor Corporation, Visteon Corporation and Yazaki North America.

The Convergence Transportation Electronics Association (CTEA), which founded the conference more than 25 years ago, and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) sponsor Convergence 2002. Proceeds from the conference benefit the Convergence Education Foundation (CEF), a nonprofit organization devoted to developing a passion for mathematics and science in school-aged children.

For general conference information contact Denise ("denny") Freitag at 248-944-0975. To register on-line visit the Convergence 2002 website at www.convergence2002.org .