[Accessing the Mobile Internet from your vehicle may not be too far in the future. "Approximately 90 percent of all luxury cars will have telematics capability by mid-decade."]

At Americas Telecom today Delphi Automotive Systems (NYSE:DPH) and Ericsson announced a strategic partnership that will bring telematics products to the vehicles market. These plug and play communications solutions will extend the advantages of mobile Internet to all car users at all levels. Delphi also named Ericsson as a key supplier for standard wireless communication modules.

Delphi will work closely with Ericsson to define new standards for telematics systems, with a plug and play feature that will allow vehicle owners to make quick upgrades to their vehicles' mobile multimedia products. This is especially important since development cycles in the telecom world are much shorter than the average vehicle ownership cycle.

"Taking from the experience of Delphi and Ericsson, we have the opportunity to create a standard telematics architecture that will reduce product development cycle times and cost,"^@said Dr. Robert W. Schumacher, Director of the Mobile MultiMedia Group at Delphi Delco Electronics Systems. "The partnership will also bring new wireless solutions to consumers much faster, and will allow them to take advantage of innovations such as Bluetooth wireless technology, wireless application protocol Internet browsing, and packet switched data transmission. In addition, the collaboration will also package third generation wireless technologies and make these advances available to the installed base through plug and play upgrades."

"In short, standardization will significantly enhance the potential telematics market growth rates," said Dave Wohleen, Executive Vice- President of Delphi Automotive Systems and President of the Electronics and Mobile Communication Sector. "We believe both companies will benefit through market and technology sharing."

The partnership unites Ericsson's leadership in global wireless communications, with DelpHi, the world's leading provider of automotive technology and systems, in order to meet the strong demand for connectivity, mobile Internet, advanced communications, information, and entertainment features for vehicles.

"The integration of mobile Internet in vehicles will provide a new era of services", said Gunilla Nordstrom, Director & General Manager of Wireless Communications Modules at Ericsson. "People in cars will be able to check e-mail, buy stocks, browse favorite Internet pages and even keep kids entertained by folding out video screens installed in the front-seat backs.

"People are no longer willing to be isolated in their cars. They want the same access to information inside the car that they currently have outside the car, and this will provide increased productivity, convenience and safety. All together, it is an unbeatable combination," said Nordstrom.

In support of the partnership, market studies indicate that fifty percent of all new cars produced in North America, Western Europe, and Japan will have embedded communications Modules in five years. Approximately 90 percent of all luxury cars will have telematics capability by mid-decade.

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