USTeleMatics Offers Internet Video For Cars

By Amy Gilroy On Dec 3 2007 - 8:00am

A new mobile video monitor that can receive live Internet video in the car without a bulky car antenna will begin shipping at International CES from USTelematics.

The company is offering an overhead DVD/monitor at prices beginning at $399 that is among the first to use mobile WiMAX, EV-DO cellular and Wi-Fi to connect users to the Internet while driving. It permits streaming video from such Web sites as CinemaNow and Movielink and allows users to download 30 to 40 videos to store on its hard drive, as well as video games.

The all-in-one overhead monitor comes in 7-inch, 10-inch and 12-inch screen sizes. The upper housing includes a mini computer with 40GB hard drive, 1GB of RAM, and a 1.2GHz processor running Microsoft Windows XP embedded. It also has a DVD drive and USB port and is compatible with WiMAX, EV-DO and Wi-Fi modems. Users can operate the device as a computer with a wireless keyboard.

USTelematics offers a special user interface that lets kids choose their programming. As the service can run through a USTelematics server, parents can also restrict kids to child-friendly Web sites.

The monitor works as a Wi-Fi hot spot for the entire car so the passenger in the front can use a laptop with a Wi-Fi card to connect to the Internet .

Voyager models will ship just prior to CES from $399 to $1,899 after a $100 rebate. The system will work with Verizon and Sprint EV-DO and Sprint's upcoming WiMAX service. Monthly service charges vary but EV-DO service is free to Verizon voice and data subscribers, or it costs $49.95/month to new Verizon subscribers.