Johnson Controls partners on car satellite linkup

Milwaukee, Wis. - TomTom, a navigation solution provider based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Johnson Controls Inc. in Milwaukee have announced a joint development relationship which will enable TomTom satellite navigation devices to become integrated into automotive electronic systems.

Johnson Controls' 'Bluetooth Mobile Device Gateway,' targeted for production in 2008 model year vehicles, enables an electronic device - such as a TomTom satellite navigation system - to communicate with the car's communication network and provide navigation directions over the car speakers.

With Johnson Controls' voice recognition technology, a user will be able to verbally command the TomTom device and receive automatic notifications that fuel is low, coupled with directions to the nearest gas station.

A driver would also be able to select a point of interest - such as a nearby restaurant - on a TomTom device touch screen. The system then could automatically dial the restaurant's telephone number, so the driver could make reservations via mobile phone using hands-free functionality.

"The relationship is a perfect marriage of technological advancements which benefits both parties, and most importantly our customers," said Wolfgang Reelitz, vice president of automotive sales at TomTom. "Consumers around the world increasingly are discovering the benefits of vehicle navigation devices," said Jim Geschke, vice president and general manager of electronics, North America for Johnson Controls.

Johnson Controls' Mobile Device Gateway technology is based on the Bluetooth wireless standard, a protocol for enabling various digital devices to exchange data reliably over short distances with radio frequency signals, a capability that is being offered in a growing number of other electronic devices.

Johnson Controls has 136,000 employees in more than 1,000 locations serving customers in 125 countries.

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