Smart Buying Essentials

Telematics - What is that?

Today's cars can perform a lot more functions than just getting you from one place to another. Through telematics, or the marriage of computers and telecommunications systems, manufacturers are offering a variety of vehicle features providing greater safety and security, hands-free communications and wireless access to a wide range of information and entertainment.

Safety, security and information services

Using speech recognition, Global Positioning System and wireless cellular technologies, today's vehicles can provide on-board communications, navigation, emergency assistance and concierge services at the touch of a few buttons.

Many vehicle manufacturers offer some form of these services in selected models, and expect to expand the services to nearly all models in the near future. Currently, the most popular of these telematics services are General Motors Corp.'s OnStar and the Tele-Aid system from DaimlerChrysler.

Both systems provide hands-free, voice activated cellular phone service and a link to advisors on duty 24 hours a day. The advisors can help if you have an emergency, need directions, or want to make reservations at your favorite restaurant.

You can also subscribe to receive stock quotes, personal e-mail, weather and traffic reports, or other Internet-based information. Lock your keys in the car again? Through GPS tracking, these systems can send a signal that remotely unlocks your doors, or track a vehicle if it's stolen. The systems also can detect when a one of your vehicle's air bag deploys and send help if needed, and provide remote diagnostics when a warning light comes on while you're driving.

OnStar is the most widely used service with more than 2 million subscribers. First introduced in 1997 Cadillac models, OnStar currently is standard or offered as an option in 50 GM vehicles (selected Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saab and Saturn models). It also is available in some Acura, Audi, Isuzu, Subaru and Volkswagen models. OnStar also is available in Lexus models under the Lexus Link name.

DaimlerChrysler's Tele-Aid service was first introduced in the luxury Mercedes S-Class sedan in 2000. It currently is standard in all Mercedes sedans.

Other manufacturers, including BMW, Chrysler, and Ford offer their own telematics systems and services¨C¨C¨C¡ª some using Bluetooth technology that will allow drivers to connect a cell phone into their vehicle's electronics system and eliminate the need for additional vehicle hardware.

But all that technology comes at a price.

For example, the factory-installed OnStar option costs $695, which includes one year of OnStar service. When the first year of service ends, you can choose from one of three service packages:

Safe & Sound (currently $16.95 a month) provides you with information and assistance in a minor accident; roadside assistance and remote door unlock service. If one of your car's airbags deploy, an emergency signal is sent to OnStar, where an advisor attempts to contact you. If there's no response or you report an emergency, the advisor contacts emergency services. In other emergencies, you can push OnStar's red emergency button. An OnStar advisor finds your vehicle's position on a digital map and alerts the closest emergency services.

Directions & Connections (currently $34.95 a month) includes all Safe & Sound services plus personal advisor help in finding businesses and attractions, assistance in calling a cab or finding a relative or friend if you're incapable to drive or the vehicle can't be driven, and voice routing navigation assistance.

For vehicles fitted with a handset, the Handset program ($22.95) offers the core safety and information services with driving directions, accident assistance, and remote diagnostics.

Personal Calling ($9.99 and up), which with one button allows you to make and receive hands-free, voice-activated calls or e-mails on a nationwide wireless network using the vehicle's embedded phone system.

Of course, these services require that you be in areas with cellular phone coverage. And like other telematics systems, OnStar's Personal Calling and Virtual Advisor features will cost you a little more. While you don't have to buy a cell phone or pay roaming and other fees, you'll need to purchase prepaid airtime minutes that currently range from $9.99 for 30 minutes of airtime good for up to 2 months, to $299.99 for 1,000 minutes that are good for a year.

Navigation Systems

Tired of wrestling with road maps or being late for appointments because you can't find an address? You might want to consider opting for a factory-installed navigation system in your next vehicle.

Once an option only in luxury cars, factory-installed navigation systems are standard in many top models and available as an option in a variety of less expensive vehicles. Factory-installed navigation systems average about $2,000, but often are grouped with other accessories in higher-priced options packages.

Navigation systems use Global Positioning System satellite signals to determine the vehicle's location, and compare that information with map data stored in the system's onboard computer. When you enter a destination, the system uses its map data to determine the best route. Most systems can direct you by showing the vehicle on an LCD map display on your dashboard, or by voice commands that play through your car's sound system, on your dashboard, center control stack, and by voice commands that play through your car's sound system.

Many systems require you to enter data manually from a touch-panel display (some only allow data entry when the car isn't moving) while others use speech-recognition technology and can understand dozens of simple voice-activated commands, such as ¡°Find nearest gas station¡± or ¡°Find nearest Chinese restaurant.¡±

Built-in navigation systems usually are much more accurate than add-on systems because they hook into your vehicle's instruments to determine speed, mileage and other information.

But even the best navigation systems aren't totally accurate. Some do a better job at providing directions than others. Most systems guide you along main roads, even if that may mean a slower trip because of traffic lights or rush-hour jams. And even up-to-date navigation software can't account for every new street, exit or shopping center.

Most of today's in-board navigation systems store map data on CD-ROMs or DVDs. A CD-ROM can cover detailed geographic data for several states, so if you're on a long trip, you might have to tote several CDs. A single DVD can cover the entire continental U.S.

But because roads and streets change, you'll have to replace your CD or DVD maps every few years. That will probably cost from $100 to more than $300, depending on the type of software and geographical area.

Digital Satellite Radios

Would you pay extra to receive at least 100 digital radio channels in your car no matter where you drive in the U.S. - all categorized by type of music or entertainment and many without commercials?

That's the promise of digital satellite radio, currently offered by XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Both companies offer mixes of single-format music, news, sports, weather and talk radio stations, all beamed from satellites hovering above the U.S.

XM radio offers 70 music, and 31 new and entertainment channels, with 35 commercial-free channels. It broadcasts separate channels dedicated to music for each decade from the 1940s to the 1990s, and several channels devoted to Rock, Pop, Hip-Hop, Soul and Rhythm & Blues, Jazz, Country, Latin and Classical. XM Radio's news and entertainment channels include Fox News, CNN Headline News, CNBC, ABC News and Talk Channel, The Weather Channel, Bloomberg News, BBC World Service, ESPN Radio, The Sporting News, NASCAR Radio, comedy and kids programming.

Sirius provides 60 commercial-free music channels and 40 news, sports, and entertainment channels. Its music programming also includes channels devoted to music of the decades from the 1950s to 1990s, along with other channels grouped under Pop, Rock, Country, Rhythm & Blues/Urban, Dance, Jazz, Latin, Classical and Variety. Its Talk channels include Fox, CNBC, Bloomberg, CNN, BBC World, BBC Mundo and ABC News and Talk channels, plus National Public Radio, ESPN Radio, Discovery Channel Radio and comedy programming.

Think of satellite radio like cable TV - providing a variety of programming beyond the reception capabilities of traditional radio. Because the signals are coming from satellites 23,000 miles above the earth, reception isn't a problem, even in sparsely populated areas. And it may be an alternative to carrying a fistful of CDs on your next long road trip.

To get satellite radio, you'll have to pay monthly subscription fees of $9.99 (XM Radio) or $12.95 (Sirius Radio). Both companies offer reduced rates for multi-year commitment and family plans. You'll also need a specific digital receiver to pick up either the Sirius or XM signals - though formats may be available in the near future for equipment that can receive either signal.

Some vehicle manufacturers are lining up with either XM or Sirius and offering factory-installed AM/FM/satellite radio units.

Major XM Satellite Radio shareholder General Motors is offering XM's service as standard or as an option on most vehicles in its broad portfolio. XM is also offered by Acura, Audi, Honda, Infiniti, Lexus, Scion, and Toyota.

DaimlerChrysler is making Sirius Satellite Radio service available as an option on selected Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep models as a dealer-installed option. Sirius radios are offered in Aston Martin, BMW, Audi, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Infiniti, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, and Volvo models. Meanwhile, Infiniti, Nissan, Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche are expected to provide buyers the choice of either XM-ready or Sirius-ready radios in future models.

Entertainment Systems

If cellular phones, AM/FM/ Cassette/CD players, Internet-based communications and digital satellite radio aren't enough, you may want to consider two other entertainment options for your car - mobile video systems that can play videotapes or DVDs, and MP3 players that provide several hours of music from hard drives that play from music files on your PC.

Manufacturers are beginning to offer factory-installed video players that play VCR or DVD movies to entertain passengers on long road trips. Small televisions, often connected to VCRs, have been offered in RVs, conversiona vans, and buses for years. But the new mobile video systems are more sophisticated, offering flat screens that drop down from the ceiling for viewing by backseat passengers, wireless stereo headphones, integration with car stereo, and remote controls.

Some entertainment systems are integrated into the car's navigation screen in the dash. (Movies and other entertainment features usually won't play on these front-seat systems unless the car is parked).

Built-in mobile video systems will cost you from about $1,500 to $2,500, depending on the system and vehicle.

Manufacturers are just beginning to offer MP3 players as original equipment, generally in CD/MP3 player combinations and as standard features or part of option packages. Ford offers CD/MP3 players on its Focus and Mustang models and F-150 trucks. Aftermarket players abound, generally priced from $200 to $400.