High-tech gear turns Mercedes into road office

High-tech gear turns Mercedes into road office

IGGP Bayu Ismoyo, The Jakarta Post, Singapore

Eager to meet the needs of its busy cosmopolitan consumers, DaimlerChrysler has equipped their latest product, the Mercedes Benz S-Class edition, with fully installed high-tech facilities, enabling motorists to work from their car seat whenever they get stuck in the city's notorious traffic jams.

DaimlerChrysler has grouped NEC, Siemens and SingTel to realize this dream for busy executives and businessmen on a tight schedule, who need to work while they are commuting.

During its presentation at the Asian Civilization Museum in Singapore on Jan. 14, DaimlerChrysler exhibited the fruit of this cooperation: a Mercedes Benz S-400 complete with 3G-UMTS or the Third Generation -- the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System.

This system enables drivers and passengers to access information off the Internet using the speed of a cell phone network.

With this type of technology, activities such as video conferencing, reading e-mails or watching live television programs and much more, can be done just like at home or the office. Advantages for the driver include that he or she can access real-time navigation during the journey, complete with detailed maps.

The technology includes two 10-inch screens on the car dashboard and one 15-inch screen in the back for the passenger, a keyboard, mouse and Internet connection speed to the Third Generation with up to two megabytes per second.

The facilities make the ride enjoyable because once a car gets stuck in traffic, the scourge of Jakarta, there are many activities commuters can get involved in, including online chatting and games.

For Jakarta and other major cities in the country, a cooperation with the operators of mobile telephone companies is needed to make the Third Generation telephone connection available.

During the test drives, which were held right after the presentation, the driver immediately gained access to detailed and accurate information. There is also a device -- the internal diagnostic module -- which provides readouts on the car's oil, temperature and tire pressure.

This is truly a new wave in technology. Combined with a luxurious ride, this new addition to the road makes for an eye- catching car.