www.telematicsupdate.com World News: Finalists revealed for the 2007 Telematics Awards Every year the Telematics Awards, organised by the industry’s only global print publication – Telematics Update – recognises the key companies that are driving the industry forward and pushing the boundaries in automotive and GPS technology. (4/4/2007) From Real Time Traffic to After Theft Tracking the number of telematics applications is vast, as is the number of companies out there clamouring for attention. “This year we got more entries than ever before” says Telematics Update editor Thomas Hallauer. “It’s a great sign that the industry is on the rise and adds even more value to this year’s winners, as they will have prevailed against more competitors than ever before.” Over the past six months, hundreds of companies nominated themselves or their partners and clients through the Telematics Awards website. An independent panel of automotive and wireless industry experts have analysed the submissions and individually narrowed down each category to these finalists (in alphabetical order by company): Telematics Leadership Award (individual) Dr. Michael Foley, executive director, Bluetooth Special Interest Group Michael Bryars, operations manager, internet/multimedia/telematics, Freescale Semiconductor Martin Thall, general manager, Microsoft, Automotive business unit Andrew Poliak, Automotive segment manager, QNX Software Systems Alain De Taeye, co-founder and chief executive officer, Tele Atlas Joost van den Bosch, Extended Offer manager, Volvo Car Corp 2007 Newcomer Award Autonet Mobile Dash Ford Motor Co Hughes Telematics Inrix Traffic.com Best Embedded Telematics Service Award BMW of North America Clear Channel Ford Motor Co Microsoft Corp OnStar Trafficmaster Best Embedded Telematics Navigation Product infoUSA Fujitsu Microelectronics America OnStar QNX Software Systems SVOX Webraska Mobile Technologies Best Portable Device Application Award Airbiquity Dash infoUSA Motorola Navigon Parrot Best Portable Navigation System Airbiquity DigiUtopikA Lda. Microsoft - Windows Automotive Navigon O2 TomTom Best Aftermarket Device Autonet Mobile Microsoft - Windows Automotive Motorola Peiker acustic Parrot Tracker Network UK Best Audio or Audio-Visual Entertainment Product Bose Corp Ford Motor Co Gracenote Microsoft - Windows Automotive Motorola Parrot Best Telematics Component Solution Airbiquity Autoliv Continental Automotive Systems Freescale Semiconductor Fujitsu Microelectronics America Magna Donnelly Telematics Service & Application: Best Commercial Vehicle Application Delphi GE - Asset Intelligence Qualcomm TomTom WORK Volvo Trucks Corp Volvo Trucks North America Best Use of Telematics Technology for Safety Airbiquity BMW of North America Continental Automotive Systems Hitachi Europe - CTG OnStar Qualcomm Best Storage Solution for In-Car Environment Bose Corp Ramtron International Corp WindSpring Global Car Manufacturer Technology Deployment Award Audi AG BMW of North America Porsche Ford Motor Co Volvo Commenting on Autoliv making the cut in the Best Component Solution category, Lars Gunnar Jonsson, senior director of Autoliv Telematics, says: “The Telematics Update Awards are well recognised in the industry, and to be nominated for our offering is important to us because it signals we are on the right track.” Joost van den Bosch, Extended Offer manager of Volvo Car Corp and one of the front runners for the Telematics Leadership award, says: “It is an honour to be recognised for this nomination by my peers. The Telematics Awards are the most prestigious in the industry, and it is especially pleasing to be recognised for the work we have been doing on the European market.” In addition to the standard awards categories, this year Telematics Update is also running its first ever ‘Peoples choice’ award, open to any and everyone working in the telematics industry. Cast your vote now on the awards website. Telematics Update magazine will reveal all the winners at the exclusive awards dinner that closes the first day’s proceedings at the 7th annual Telematics Detroit Conference and Exhibition, May 22-23, 2006 at the Rock Financial Showplace in Michigan, USA. More information and dinner tickets can be purchased through the Telematics Update website.