A company called US Telematics is choosing to leave satellite technology in the dust and use WiMax technology to bring as many as 500 channels to commuters sitting in traffic. US Telematics is the company behind the Voyager in car entertainment system.

The WiMax approach is vastly different from other companies trying to put television into cars, like Sirius Backseat TV and KVH Industries, both of which rely on satellites to send the shows to viewers. On a side note, at least Sirius was smart enough to put backseat in its name and at least pretend it didn’t want to encourage viewing and driving, because you know someone will be dumb enough to try and drive while watching the latest shows.

The television ported over the WiMax wireless airwaves to traffic bound viewers will be IPTV. IPTV is simply a short way of saying television broadcast over the internet as internet transfer packets, ideally suited for WiMax to car signal.

Other companies that have recently dipped toes into the television to car fire include Microsoft Corporation and Hughes Telematics. It is thought that Microsoft is seeking to make television a future part of their existing Sync technology, rolled out in some cars this year.

Television in the car is about more than just controlling the kids and keeping everyone happy and sedated in traffic. It can also be used to update people on breaking news, weather changes and traffic. Knowing about weather and events as they happen might ease congestion in dangerous situations, keeping people off the roads in blizzards and other bad conditions.

The program announced by US Telematics is called 4VDO. It is based on an IPTV, data transfer and WiMax technology run on Intelligent Transportation Systems. 4VDO is initially meant to deliver live television only, but other applications for safety and streaming music and more should follow.

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Entry was posted on Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 at 4:42 pm under Uncategorized.

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