Motorola announces

The electronics giant Motorola has announced, it has

forged an alliance with IBM, QNX Software Systems and Embedded Plant to

bring to market advanced, new devices to integrate the automobile with the

Internet.That’s just one application of a major initiative announced by

Motorola to develop a new generation of

"smart cars

Among the applications listed by Motorola are the ability to download

desired music selections; obtain road and traffic conditions on certain

routes to get to and from work; find directions to the nearest restaurant

and lodging facilities; and summon road assistance. Motorola said the

products it envisions developing could become available as early as model

year 2002 or 2003.

Motorola said it did not yet know how much those services might cost,

but said consumers generally balk at upgrades that cost more than 2 to 3

percent of the manufacturer's suggested retail price of the car. On a

$30,000 car, that would mean a maximum price tag of about $900 for the

"smart car" additions.