Sunday October 24, 11:38 am Eastern Time
GM plans Internet access in cars within year-paper
DETROIT, Oct 24 (Reuters) - General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM - news), the world's largest automaker, plans to offer Internet access in some vehicles within a year, the Detroit News reported on Sunday.
The Detroit automaker had previously said it intended to offer Internet access in its cars, but Mark Hogan, president of GM's recently formed e-GM unit, identified the time frame for the first time in an interview with the paper at the Tokyo Motor Show.
GM wants to use the program to give the automaker a head start in the race to market online technology, the paper said.
Next month, GM will show a Cadillac Seville equipped with voice-activated Internet service that allows the driver hands-free access to the Internet via GM's Onstar communications and navigation system, with plans to roll out the system in several models next year, Hogan said.
``We're really focusing on voice telephony, where a customer can interact with the Internet via voice,' Hogan told the paper. ``That way the driver can concentrate on the main task, which is driving.'
The system will allow a driver to check e-mail, surf the Web and download data, the paper said. |
