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MS, Japanese cos. to develop Windows CE for cars

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CIOL Bureau
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TOKYO: A unit of Microsoft Corp and five Japanese companies said on Tuesday

that they agreed to develop software for automobile computers, greatly enhancing

the functions of car navigation systems.

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The new software will be based on Windows CE for Automotive, an operating

system designed to make possible new in-car computers capable of hands-free

communication, access to the Internet and the ability to summon emergency

services and roadside assistance.

The five companies are Japan's biggest car component maker Denso Corp.,

Toyota-affiliated car parts maker Aisin AW Co. Ltd., a leading Japanese car

audio equipment maker Clarion Co. Ltd., Nissan-affiliated car navigation system

maker Xanavi Informatics Corp., and Japan's second-biggest trading house Mitsui

& Co. Ltd.

"Denso agreed with Microsoft in March on Windows CE. Today's

announcement increases the number of participants in the development, enabling

car navigation system makers to cut costs involved in producing powerful

navigation systems," a Denso spokesman said.

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Navigation systems using the new software will go on sale in Japan in 2001 or

2002, they said.

Aisin AW is owned 50 per cent by Toyota Motor Corp., producing automatic

transmissions and navigation systems. Xanavi Informatics is owned 51 per cent by

Hitachi and 49 per cent by Nissan Motor Co. Denso is owned 24.9 per cent by

Toyota.

Hitachi, NEC Corp., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd., Sigma Designs

Inc. and other 18 firms mostly Japanese would take part in the project to

develop standardized communication devices for cars.

(C) Reuters Limited 2000.

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