Not even:
The World's First 'Smart' Car Key Prototype.
Publication: Business Wire
Date: Tuesday, October 21 2008
Secure Contactless Payments Based on NXP's SmartMX Chipset
EINDHOVEN, Netherlands -- BMW Group Research and Technology and NXP Semiconductors, the independent semiconductor company founded by Philips, have unveiled a prototype of the world's first multifunctional car key. The prototype features contactless payment, personalized access control, and advanced functionalities including public transport e-ticketing, to deliver an enhanced mobility experience. Powered by NXP's SmartMX security chip, the prototype - for the first time - allows drivers to perform quick, secure and convenient electronic payments with a car key, creating exciting new usage scenarios for future consumers.
allbusiness.com
Can save NXP from numbers like these:
"The financial crisis and semiconductor market conditions have caused a rapid deterioration of demand towards the end of the third quarter, especially in the automotive and consumer sectors," van Houten said in a statement.
NXP's revenue tumbled in the September quarter to $1.37 billion, down 16 percent from the comparable quarter of 2007, although the company attributed part of the decline to the sale of its wireless IC division to fellow European chip maker ST.
The Dutch company also said its net loss widened to $2.55 billion from $12 million in the year-ago comparable quarter, adding that gross profit margins fell to minus 2 percent, or $31 million, from 37 percent, or $608 million, in the third quarter of 2007.
On a non-GAAP basis, NXP's net loss before interest and taxes ballooned to $1.9 billion from $3 million in the third quarter of 2007. NXP said its cash position improved during the most recent quarter to $1.54 billion after accounting for the net receipt of $1.45 billion from the sale of its wireless business to ST and the repayment of a $450 million revolving loan. The company also paid $108 million for Conexant's broadband media processing business during the quarter.
Factory utilization fell to 68 percent in the third quarter, from 85 percent in the year-ago quarter and 78 percent in the second quarter of 2008. In September, NXP announced plans to rationalize its manufacturing and R&D operations with the goal of reducing costs by as much as $550 million on an annualized basis.
Analysts said they believe those actions, while positive, might not be enough to lift the company out of the current mess. Standard & Poor's, for instance, maintained its negative outlook on NXP despite its improved cash position, according to Patrice Cochelin, an analyst with the ratings firm.
eetimes.com
Meanwhile... Nokia is trying to find a high volume market... of high end buyers... who need to use a cell phone to tell them where they are... and what they are taking a picture of... when they aren't using it to drive their cars:
eetimes.com
Well... the code junkies may have taken complete control over the consumer hardware world, but it is painfully obvious that they have yet to identify an application sufficient to justify their otherworldly expense.
This must be what it feels like to watch a fishing village go into debt to modernize all its ships and technology... and then proceed to destroy all fish supplies within 2,000 miles trying to pay off the banks. Well our new "smart phones" may rot... but at least they won't stink when they do.
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