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ng Connect Program Puts Connectivity in the Fast Lane with the LTE Connected Car Concept Vehicle

NEW YORK--The ng Connect Program today announced the LTE Connected Car, a new concept vehicle, that illustrates how 4G/Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile broadband access technology and the resulting ultra high bandwidth connectivity can bring a wide range of new capabilities to the automobile. The LTE Connected Car concept—a sophisticated, next-generation “smart” device on wheels supported by the most advanced wireless broadband networking technology available—offers a wide range of navigation, personal security, entertainment and infotainment services to both drivers and passengers alike.

The LTE Connected Car concept also represents an exciting new potential revenue opportunity for network operators, automotive suppliers and application providers, and sets the stage to usher in a new era of richer and personalized in-car experiences.

Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU), Atlantic Records, QNX Software Systems, Toyota Motor Sales, Chumby and Kabillion partnered on the development the LTE Connected Car project.

The LTE Connected Car concept offers independently operated touchscreens coupled with innovative software which provide access to multiple applications and forms of content. The prototype system supports the creation of personalized and interactive connected experiences that can be tailored to the individual preferences and requirements of both drivers and passengers.

The LTE Connected Car concept illustrates that mobile devices are potentially no longer just phones or music players. The concept vehicle becomes a mobile platform where information can be easily accessed and transmitted through the use of high bandwidth connectivity and cloud-based applications.

The LTE Connected Car concept offers a comprehensive menu of future-generation features that can be sampled in the vehicle including the following entertainment, infotainment, security and driving-related services:

  • Video on demand – an endless catalog of video content, including movies, recorded TV programs and user-generated content. New content can also be easily rented or purchased in-car for media playback there or paused and finished at home.
  • Gaming – multi-player games played within the vehicle, in other cars or with players anywhere in the world.
  • Audio Library – no longer bound to just CDs, the radio or portable music players - an endless music catalog is accessible from the cloud.
  • Home control – direct connection from the concept car to home automation and security systems to manage climate control systems, lighting, etc. or monitor home or business IP security cameras with streaming video feeds.
  • Enhanced communications services – calls and messaging services with a hands-free experience and access to social networks available to anyone in the car.
  • eCommerce – Web browsing and access to one of the concept’s many apps to buy right from the car.
  • Wi-Fi hotspot –in-car Wi-Fi network for full utilization of all Wi-Fi enabled in-car devices and connectivity to the cloud via LTE.
  • Advanced Navigation - the convenience of immediate, real-time GPS updates with point-of-interest overlay and integrated location-based services.
  • Enhanced safety, convenience and security – always-on LTE connectivity for real-time traffic, weather and road condition alerts to help improve driver safety in addition to the convenience of proactive vehicle health monitoring including maintenance scheduling, security monitoring and theft protection.
  • Road and vehicle monitoring - The concept vehicle becomes the sensor; a single platform for the collection and interactivity of vehicle status, location and road conditions that can be shared with other drivers.

For more information on these features, videos on the LTE Connected Car prototype and an interactive demonstration of the experience visit http://www.ngconnect.org/lteconnectedcar.

“With the introduction of the LTE Connected Car concept, the automobile is poised to become the latest mobile platform,” said Derek Kuhn, Vice President for Emerging Technology and Media, Alcatel-Lucent, an ng Connect founding member. “Information, entertainment content and essential data such as traffic updates and the location of preferred retail outlets or service centers can be easily accessed through the use of high bandwidth connectivity, cloud-based interactive applications and the next generation of innovative in-car computing platforms.”

The ng Connect Program is a multi-industry collaboration among leading network, device, application, automotive and content suppliers to develop pre-integrated examples of possible applications and services for 3G and 4G/LTE networks.

For more detail on individual ng Connect Member contributions to this innovative and exciting new concept vehicle, please visit the project website at www.ngconnect.org/lteconnectedcar.

About The ng Connect Program

The ng Connect Program is a multi-industry organization committed to the development and rapid deployment of the next generation of broadband services based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) and other ultra high bandwidth technologies. Founded in 2009, the ng Connect Program is supported by leading network, consumer electronics, application and content providers including 4DK, Alcatel-Lucent, Atlantic Records, BUZZMEDIA, chumby, Connect2Media, Creative Technology Ltd., dimedis, FISHLABS, GameStreamer, Inc., Gemalto, HP, Intamac Systems Ltd., Kabillion, Kyocera Communications Inc., LearningMate, MediaTile, QNX, R360, RebelVox LLC., Samsung, SIGNEXX, Total Immersion, Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc., TuneWiki, V-Gate and Words & Numbers. For more information on the ng Connect Program, please visit: www.ngconnect.org.

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