Java technology to provide foundation for new OnStar services
OnStar, a subsidiary of General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), and Sun Microsystems, Inc. today announced they will collaborate to bring new personalized services to OnStar subscribers using Java technology.
Under the agreement, Sun and OnStar will build a new, open software layer based on Java 2 Platform Micro Edition technology. To ensure that the software solution is “open,” OnStar and Sun will solicit input from the entire industry and release the resulting specifications to the automotive industry and standards bodies.
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This will provide OnStar’s OEM partners with a wide choice of competitive, as well as interchangeable, in-vehicle hardware and operating systems. In addition, this will enable OnStar to significantly extend its current leadership position in providing in-vehicle customer services.
“OnStar is the benchmark in delivering safety, convenience and information services, and this announcement is a natural extension of our intent to maintain leadership in this space,” said OnStar President Chet Huber. “OnStar will be on a million vehicles by the end of this year, and that number will quadruple by 2003.”
“What we’re doing in effect is expanding the market for mobile devices for the 2.5 million Java technology developers worldwide, giving them the ability to leverage their existing services and create new ones,” said Patricia C. Sueltz, executive vice president, Software Systems Group, Sun Microsystems.
Sun Microsystems CEO Scott McNealy referred to the announcement during his keynote address at Convergence 2000 International Congress on Transportation Electronics.
Specific timing and services will be announced at a later date.
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By GlobalDataAbout OnStar
OnStar, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Motors, is the nation’s leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and information services. Using the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite network and wireless technology, OnStar links the driver and vehicle to the OnStar Center, where advisors are available to offer real-time, personalized service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. OnStar services include automatic notification of air bag deployment, stolen vehicle tracking, emergency services, roadside assistance with location, remote door unlock, remote diagnostics, route support, concierge services, and convenience services locator. New services include Personal Calling, which allows drivers to make and receive hands-free, voice-activated calls from their vehicles and Virtual Advisor, which will deliver to the vehicle personalized Internet-based information such as news headlines, sports scores, stock quotes, weather conditions and e-mail through a hands-free, voice-activated, audio interface. OnStar, featured on 32 of GM’s 54 2001 model year vehicles, will be on about a million GM vehicles by the end of this year. OnStar services also will be offered on 2001 Lexus and 2002 Acura models.
About Sun Microsystems
Since its inception in 1982, a singular vision — The Network Is The Computer(TM) — has propelled Sun Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNW), to its position as a leading provider of industrial-strength hardware, software and services that power the Internet and allow companies worldwide to dot-com their businesses. With $15.7 billion in annual revenues, Sun can be found in more than 170 countries and on the World Wide Web at www.sun.com
