New car navigation systems to show high-quality TV

TOKYO May 16, 2006: Japan Today reported that car navigation system makers will release new products this summer, including models allowing people to watch high-definition television broadcasts and others aimed at providing more accurate traffic forecasts. The launch of the navigation systems that also function as high-definition TVs for land-based digital broadcasting follows the start in April of the "one segment broadcasting" service.

The new service, popularly known as "One Seg," is a new type of digital terrestrial broadcasting for mobile phones and car navigation equipment. On June 15, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co will release the latest version of its mainstay "Strada" car navigation system equipped with a tuner for digital terrestrial broadcasting as standard feature.