THE CUTTING EDGE COMPUTING TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION Wireless Car on Horizon Telecom New technolog

CellPort has already licensed a technology that allows any model of portable cellular phone to be slipped in an adapter pocket for hands-free use MaxiDAS DS708 Tool, power charging and for a long-range antenna. The company's licensee, Hello Direct, began selling the product through cellular carriers about a month ago.

CellPort's new technology, to be shipped in products toward the end of 1996, will allow a universal port to be connected to a range of other devices, including CD-ROMs, global positioning systems (which establish a car's location by satellite) and computers.

The company is negotiating with European and U Auto Diagnostic.S. auto companies to incorporate the technology into 1998 cars. CellPort expects car makers to offer a $100 option that would use its networking technology not only to install universal ports for hands-free use of cell phones, but also to connect the various microprocessors already embedded in today's vehicles.

AT&T and CellPort believe the new "vehicle local area network" (VLAN) technology will provide a platform for the development of dozens of auto-related computer and communications applications:

* When a car crashes and the air bag is released, the system could be programmed so that the cell phone automatically dials 911 and notifies paramedics of the location of the car, using information from the car's global positioning system.

* Short news items or electronic mail messages could be flashed on a dashboard display.

* A driver experiencing engine problems could contact his or her mechanic while on the freeway. The mechanic could remotely diagnose the problem and make recommendations.

* In the event of a carjacking, a driver could push an emergency button that would automatically call the police and send information about the car's location.

Many of these applications are already technically possible, but a lack of standards has provided little incentive to develop them. Auto companies have pursued their own, more limited proprietary systems for offering electronic diagnosing through authorized dealers, for example. A standardized system would probably undercut the dealers.

Auto companies have also been reluctant to connect any communications devices to such critical safety features as the microprocessors that control air bags.

Pat Kennedy, chief executive at CellPort, says the safety issue has been resolved by establishing a secure gateway that prevents interference with the critical safety functions of the car Autel MS509.
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