The new telematics systems number is more than doubled in the recent years from automakers. The systems like OnStar provide peace of mind in catastrophic events or crashes to the vehicle owners and their families. They are not only for emergencies, but also for conveniences (such as remote door unlocking) and offer navigation services etc. Now automakers are linking smartphone apps and telematics. These will provide the remote control access to the vehicle owners on some aspects. The telematics hardware is comes along with the vehicles and there is no need to pay any extra. Initially its services and features are for new cars. Once the trail period is completed, you need to subscribe them for yearly or monthly to continue receiving the services.
- Free telematics: Some companies are offering telematics free from charge for a first few years or months of the ownership. Latter you need to pay for that to continue. Ford with its sync system offering a subscription free limited telematics services for the first three years after you bought the car from dealer. When fuel shutoff valve activities in an accident or airbag deploys, its emergency assist automatically calls 911 through the connected bluetooth phone. Sync’s vehicle report with an online portal provides owners maintenance reminders and online diagnostic information. You can get the automated navigation to a required location, and businesses and services in an area with sync’s traffic. These systems provide conveniences and peace of mind, but you need to pay for it.
- Internet and calling: There are many companies offering Internet and call based telematics with their telematics services.
- BMW is offering an internet based Google search of services and businesses, which is tied with car’s navigation system. It also provides the information about the gas filling stations and its updated prices, stock market index, weather forecasts and traffic information. It offers a few minutes calling system, which will helpful to you in case of forget mobile or the battery is dead, for this you need to subscribe.
- The General Motors OnStar offering hands free calling embedded with cellular modem. Subscribers can purchase the prepaid talk time.
- Mercedes Benz also offering a wide range of services. Safe Ride is one of its mbrace system services. It offers to contact a taxi company or to arrange transportation when the owner feels he should not drive. When the vehicle alarm is on for more than thirty seconds, the embrace system sends an email or a text message to the vehicle owner. It also offers weather forecasts, and traffic information.
- Security services: Emergency services and the vehicle collision are the core telematics features available in all the vehicles. When the car airbags are deployed or other sensors triggered, the emergency telematics sends a message to the command center. An executive will contact through the telematics. If the person not responded or confirmed there is an accident, the command center immediately dispatches emergency response personnel.
The telematics also offer many types of other services. Those are like remote locking of door, nearby restaurants and other required services, text to speech through Bluetooth, smartphone apps integration, and so on.
