Motorola Unveils Web Smart Radio Technology

Motorola has taken the wraps off an Internet radio prototype called Smart Radio. The firm says that the technology has been designed for in-vehicle use. As the name implies, the technology is designed to allow drivers to capture music on demand, as well as to listen to real time traffic reports and download audio books across the Web.

Motorola says that the system can also be used to access voice-mail, receive the latest news and weather reports, and access updated stock portfolio information and e-mail services.

Because the service operates across the Web, it is interactive, allowing the user to select only those features that they are interested in.

The plan is for the mobile multimedia features to be delivered wirelessly via Web access, satellite, digital cellular, and FM sideband technologies.

Tom Tischhauser, director of Motorola's EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Telematics Group, said the firm is already in discussions with automative manufacturers about the technology.

The Smart Radio, he said, will bring a wireless Web connection to cars, so transforming the driving experience, since it offers car manufacturers one more way to make driving more exciting and convenient.

"Smart Radio is designed to make Web content easy to access, manage and control," he said, adding that a key advantage over existing mobile Web access technologies is that all Smart Radio communications can be carried out on a hands-free basis using voice recognition and text-to-speech technologies.

It's still early days on the Smart Radio technology, but Motorola hopes to make the first systems available to automotive manufacturers by the end of 2000.

Motorola's Web site is at http://www.motorola.com.