Demonstrating 'The Value Of Voice': ATX Records Banner Year for Speech-Enabled Telematics Applications

Voice Technology in Vehicles Keep Drivers Informed, Increase Loyalty to Automobile Brands and Dealers

DALLAS-FORT WORTH, Texas, Jan. 23 -- ATX Group, the world's largest independent telematics services provider to the automotive industry, recently completed its most active year to date in the development of speech- enabled applications for customized telematics programs involving automobile and personal navigation device manufacturers.

ATX uses voice technology to provide vehicle owners with convenient, in- vehicle access to a wealth of vehicle and driving information under the vehicle manufacturer's brand name, thereby increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty to that brand and its affiliated dealer.

"In a fiercely competitive new car market, it is critical that vehicle manufacturers and their dealers maintain a relationship with their customers as they are using their product. High touch, non-intrusive voice applications enhance customer relationships by providing convenient services without introducing driver distraction," explained Dr. Tom Schalk, ATX's vice president of voice technology.

In 2007, ATX's Voice Technology Lab developed and implemented the following speech-enabled applications:

  -- Voice technology was used for the first time as an in-vehicle,
     relationship marketing tool, as automated voice-delivered invitations
     were sent to select vehicle owners to test drive a new version of the
     vehicle model they currently owned. Automated messages also were used
     to remind owners of the need to winterize their vehicles and how to set
     their dashboard clocks from daylight savings to standard time.  These
     Dealer Connect services deliver convenience to drivers and revenue for
     dealers.

  -- Sales personnel at automobile dealerships now have a valuable on-demand
     resource to help new vehicle owners activate and understand their
     telematics systems. A new automated interactive voice application
     provides simple and consistent steps for subscription activation, as
     well as a quick and simple way to provide a showroom demonstration of
     telematics benefits.

  -- Parents of infants and toddlers no longer have to determine on their
     own how to best attach child safety seats to their particular vehicle
     model. By simply pressing a telematics information button, clear, step-
     by-step installation instructions are immediately available as part of
     a completely voice-automated, virtual owner's manual, which offers
     interactive in-vehicle assistance. The patented solution is designed so
     that content can be updated off-board and downloaded to the vehicle
     remotely.

  -- In the event their car alarm is activated, vehicle owners can be
     immediately notified with an automated message provided via a speech-
     enabled outbound dialer that listens and provides customized messages.

  -- Vehicle owners can download target destinations or points of interest
     obtained through Web searches on Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps directly to
     their in-vehicle navigation system. Owners receive an audio
     confirmation within the vehicle that the download was successful.
     Soon, drivers will be able to verbally request target-destination
     downloads from within their vehicles.

Dr. Schalk said ATX will soon offer more opportunities to demonstrate "the value of voice" in the vehicle through other speech-enabled applications such as voice browsing and turn-by-turn directions.

"We will certainly see more and more speech-enabled applications in the vehicle in the near future with continuously improving quality as enhancements are made based on the actual experiences in the dialogues today between drivers and their systems. These systems are exceeding user expectations and approaching a 'non-automated' feel," said Dr. Schalk.

About ATX

Based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, and Dusseldorf, Germany, ATX Group is the world's largest provider of customized telematics services to the automotive industry, serving both North America and Europe. ATX telematics services are designed to provide enhanced safety, security and driving convenience to vehicle owners. These services include location-specific emergency and roadside assistance, automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle recovery, remote diagnostics and real-time traffic and navigation assistance.

ATX also customizes telematics services to help automobile manufacturers and their affiliated dealerships to use telematics data to reduce costs, enhance vehicle servicing, and more closely manage customer relationships. ATX services are provided to vehicle owners through the brand names of its customers: Mercedes-Benz, BMW, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Maybach, and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. For more information, visit www.atxg.com .