Goin' Mobile Japan! #23 | Print |
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TrendWatch: Will Bluetooth wireless communication technology break into the auto industry?

Back in our April TrendWatch article, we introduced Toyota’s new telematics system “G-BOOK ALPHA,” which is Toyota’s next generation GPS system. Today, more and more automobiles in Japan are equipped with GPS and the technology is quickly becoming the most necessary and useful item in the car. As you know, telematics requires two-way or interactive communication via a mobile communication infrastructure, so a strong and reliable connection between the G-BOOK ALPHA and the mobile phone is essential. In the April article, we briefly mentioned the G-BOOK ALPHA equipped Bluetooth interfaces wirelessly with other devices such as mobile phones. Honda and Nissan also have wireless Bluetooth interfaces for their telematics systems.

In last month’s news release, I-O Data Device, Inc. released a Bluetooth adapter, PDI-B922 Series, for the G-BOOK ALPHA. The adapter is available for KDDI’s cdma 1x and cdma WIN and DoCoMo’s FOMA and Mova (Please see 9/22 release). By using this device, you can achieve hands-free talk/communications as well as receive G-BOOK services on your mobile phone. The device is easily set up by pressing the setup button and Bluetooth will activate automatically when the ignition key is started. This product is available at Lexus and Toyota dealerships.

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TOYOTA G-BOOK ALPHA

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PDI-B922/CD

The following table is the technical specification of PDI-B922:

 

for KDDI au

for DoCoMo FOMA

for DoCoMo Mova

Interface

Cdma 18pin connecter

IMT-2000 connecter

PDC 16pin connecter

Transmission method

Frequency Hopped Spread Spectrum (FHSS)

Modulation

GFSK

Bluetooth Profile

GAP, SDAP, HFP (CCAP), OPP, DUN

Network range

10m (depending on environment)

Power

Li-ion battery

Stand-by time*

90 minutes

120 minutes

Talk time*

80 minutes

100 minutes

Power charging time

2 hours

Weight

18 g

Dimension (mm)

42(W)×41(D)×17(H)

42(W)×42(D)×15(H)

43(W)×41(D)×15(H)

Standards

Bluetooth Specification Version 1.2, TELEC
* DC (12V) adapter can be used for continuous communications in the car.

Bluetooth technology, initiated by Nokia, Ericsson, Toshiba, IBM, etc., has a very long history before commercial products came out in the market; but due to a lack of applications the technology never really caught on. However, today you can finally see certain people start using Bluetooth headsets while driving and walking. Particularly, for safety reasons and convenience, more drivers will adopt the hands-free environment in the future. From now on, along with telematics, we will watch how Bluetooth devices and applications will revolutionize the wireless market in the automotive industry.


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