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ABI Research Expects e-Call to Drive EU Telematics -- When it Arrives!OYSTER BAY, N.Y. --(Business Wire)-- July 26, 2005 -- For several years, the European Commission has been working on a project known as e-Call, an emergency service intended to bring rapid assistance to motorists involved in a collision anywhere in the EU. It will employ a hardware "black box" installed in the vehicle, which will wirelessly send airbag deployment and impact sensor information, as well as GPS coordinates, to local emergency services. This and many other telematics-related topics are discussed in the latest edition of ABI Research's "Global OEM Consumer Telematics, Navigation and Infotainment Service", which includes research reports, market updates, forecast databases, analyst access and vendor matrices. When e-Call "goes live", it should give a strong boost to European telematics. The trouble is, according to ABI Research analyst David Schrier, developments have moved more slowly than expected. "Originally automakers were going to start installing the boxes in 2007/2008," says Schrier. "We felt that was too optimistic. Now the EU has a more reasonable plan, aiming to equip most new vehicles in 2009. We still believe that the beginning of the next decade is more realistic, since they have to mandate the automakers to integrate the hardware, raising both engineering and cost issues. They'll also need a universal SIM card that works in every EU country." A prototype has been tested successfully, using the GPRS networks that are ubiquitous in Europe. The remaining task is to standardize diverse municipalities and regions on one universal protocol, so that, for example, collision information for a German traveling in France will be routed to the correct local agencies. Language issues must be addressed as well. Once e-Call is up and running, it should boost other telematics services such as route assistance and traffic information. But that depends on consumers' buying habits. "Telematics services that require monthly fees have been hugely unpopular with European consumers," says Schrier. "Drivers may buy on a per-use basis, but not for a monthly fee." Founded in 1990 and headquartered in New York, ABI Research maintains global operations supporting annual research programs, intelligence services and market reports in automotive, wireless, semiconductors, broadband, and energy. For information visit www.abiresearch.com, or call +1.516.624.2500. |
