Delphi Announces Palm-Based Link, Home Theater Unit

By Amy Gilroy On Jan 22 2001 - 8:00am

LAS VEGAS -Delphi announced delivery of its Mobile Productivity Center, which converts a Palm handheld to a voice-activated organizer and links it to a cellphone. The company also debuted at CES a rear-seat mobile entertainment system and announced that both products are expected to be sold through retailers.

The Delphi Communiport Mobile Productivity Center synchronizes a Palm handheld with an Ericsson cellphone through voice commands. The new MPC Pro uses a 32-bit microprocessor to drive a speaker-independent, continuous voice-recognition engine that works with a Palm V or Vx handheld and can combine with an Ericsson R280 or 1228 cellphone.

It is controlled completely by voice commands for access to PIM functions and to place cellular calls. It also uses an FM transmitter to send the MPC's audio through the car stereo system.

The MPC Pro became available during CES at Delphi's website (www.delphiauto.com) at a price of $499 and will be offered through retailers later in the year.

Delphi will also be working with MobileAria-a start-up wireless company funded by Delphi, Palm and The Mayfield fund-to offer additional voice-delivery services including news, weather, sports and financial information, as well as traffic and turn-by-turn navigation. MobileAria will enable two-way e-mail by letting users to respond to their e-mail through voice Wav files.

Delphi will also deliver in February a transportable Communiport rear-seat mobile entertainment system at $1,495 through its website (as well as retailers in the future). The self-contained DVD-based system plugs into the car's cigarette lighter and has a 7-inch screen.