Vizualogic Plans Car VOD
By Amy Gilroy -- TWICE, 3/27/2006
Corona, Calif. — Vizualogic is planning to unveil in November one of the first video-on-demand (VOD) systems for the car that will offer first run, day-and-date movies, said the company.
Vizualogic, a division of TMI Products, said it is currently negotiating with Hollywood, TV and other partners for the content. The company said it will conduct a test trial for delivering movies to moving vehicles in 30 days in the city here, according to engineering VP Chuck Paul.
Vizualogic is also planning a cutting-edge, rear-seat entertainment system for the VOD system. Called the DS-3000, it would be a custom headrest/monitor system that includes an 80GB-120GB removable hard drive and Wi-Fi capability. Vizualogic is also in the “final stages” of reaching agreements with Apple and Microsoft to allow the DS-3000 to work with the iPod and MP3 players to deliver both music and movies stored on these devices, said Paul.
Pending negotiations, the system will control MP3 players and iPods and display song and artist information on the video screens. Pricing is not yet available.
The company is also working with Intel to allow the system to work with the new Intel Viiv media center PCs.
The DS-3000 is based on Vizualogic's current A1000 platform, so that it is compatible with over 7,000 headrests already offered, Paul said.
The VOD system will offer more than movies, eventually providing on-demand information, live Internet in the car, purchasing from iTunes in the car and the delivery of free content to the car, as well as in-car advertising, said Paul.
