Delphi Automotive Systems is taking orders for its Communiport(R) Mobile Productivity Center via the Internet, company officials announced Jan. 6. The MPC is a new electronic device designed to help busy consumers be productive in their vehicles. The first model of the MPC lineup, called Communiport MPCpro, synchronizes select Ericsson cellular telephone models with a Palm V or Vx hand-held computer. The Communiport MPCpro will initially be sold over the Internet, at www.delphiauto.com/communiport , for a retail price of $499. The Palm hand-held computer and the Ericsson phone are sold separately. The Internet-first marketing strategy will help Delphi reach its technology-savvy market, said J.T. Battenberg III, Delphi chairman, CEO and president. "Delphi is changing the way we do business, and our MPC launch strategy reflects our commitment to reaching consumers with exciting, innovative products," Battenberg said. "We want to ensure the first units are offered to these consumers." Delphi will begin delivering the MPCpro during January 2001, said Jeff Owens, Delphi Delco Electronics Systems general director of business lines, marketing and portfolio. "We have received significant interest since our early product announcement last April, and it has continued to build," Owens said. The MPC docks a Palm hand-held computing device with the Ericsson R280 or 1228 cellular telephone to allow the user to access information contained in the Palm unit via voice recognition and text-to-speech. The Communiport MPC uses a low-power FM transmitter to allow audio to be heard through an available FM channel on the vehicle's audio system. Through its text-to-speech capabilities, the Communiport MPC can read information from the Palm's "To Do" list, retrieve telephone numbers from the unit's address book and dial them automatically via voice commands. The date book, memo pad and other Palm functions are also operated via voice recognition. The unit features one-button activation with all other functions designed to be performed hands-free, allowing drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. "The product interface is designed to allow the driver to perform his or her primary responsibility of operating the vehicle safely," Owens said. Millions of people currently own a Palm hand-held computer. Americans, meanwhile, spend more than 26 billion hours commuting each year, which provides a unique opportunity to improve productivity, connectivity and entertainment during daily commuting. The Communiport Mobile Productivity Center (MPC) is one of the new products in the Delphi portfolio designed to address the consumer demand for personalized entertainment, added convenience, and mobile productivity for their vehicles. Delphi recently announced the availability of its Communiport(R) Rear-Seat Entertainment System, for order at www.delphiauto.com in early February. About Delphi Automotive Systems Multi-national Delphi Automotive Systems, with headquarters in Troy, Mich., USA; Paris, Tokyo, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a worldwide mobile electronics and transportation components and systems technology company. Delphi's three business sectors are Dynamics & Propulsion; Safety, Thermal & Electrical Architecture; and Electronics & Mobile Communication. Delphi can be found on the Internet at www.delphiauto.com .
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