ICO, who recently partnered with Delphi, has reached an agreement with Discovery Communications to provide live mobile video content for the alpha trials of its ICO mim service.
 
The channels available for the ICO mim trials include Discovery Channel, TLC and Discovery Kids.

Powered by the ICO G1 satellite, ICO mim's trials will be starting in late summer in Raleigh-Durham, NC and Las Vegas. The ICO G1 is the largest commercial satellite launched to date, weighing nearly 15,000-lbs at liftoff, and measuring more than 27-ft high and over 100-ft wide with the solar array deployed.

ICO previously announced an agreement with NBC Universal to also provide content for its alpha trials. The question is, who's next?

Sirius and XM introduced their real-time traffic services in 2004, but even though they were fairly early to the game, they're definitely not the only ones focusing on the space.

Last week a group of broadcast corporations - comprised of Cox Radio, Entercom, Bonneville, Emmis, Beasley, Greater Media, Radio One, and NPR - formed a joint venture called the Broadcaster Traffic Consortium. The goal? To help monetize the HD Radio spectrum (which is in dire need of monetization). And they're working with NAVTEQ to make it happen.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Microsoft Research laboratories spent the last five years developing a complex software model to avoid traffic jams, called Clearflow.

Clearflow will be freely available as part of Live Maps, with support for 72 cities. It doesn't just reroute you around traffic jams, because in some cases rerouting off the highway can send you into even more congested areas. Instead, Clearflow will figure out whether its worthwhile to stick it out on the freeway, rather than taking a detour.

Of course Clearflow was created to help Live.com compete with Google, but how long before Microsoft applies the Clearflow technology to MSN Direct?

MSN Direct has snuggled up with Garmin over the years, and the folks at Redmond have even partnered with Clear Channel to deliver MSN Direct HD over - you guessed it - the HD Radio spectrum (note that Clear Channel isn't part of the consortium).

And then there's the ICO mim service - which yesterday enjoyed a successful launch of their ICO G1 satellite - that will be going online in the near future with a trial service. Their setup will be similar to Sirius and XM, using a hybrid satellite and terrestrial network (as opposed to HD Radio's pure terrestrial setup). ICO is still in its infancy when compared to these other technologies, but shouldn't be discounted either.

The bottom line is that the current solution for avoiding traffic congestion (i.e., listening to your local radio station) is a subpar one to say the least. By the time an accident is mentioned on the radio, it's usually too late. And the daily commuter will be more than happy to plunk down a few bucks a month when they're stuck in a mile-long jam.

Don't get me wrong, Sirius/XM were pretty darn smart in seeing this need and getting a shoe-in with automakers nearly 4 years ago. But this is still extremely new technology as far as the consumer goes. And as a need arises, there will be plenty of companies willing to profit from fulfilling it.

ICO Global Communications will be launching its G1 satellite from Cape Canaveral today.

It's not only the largest satellite ever launched by an Atlas rocket, but the ICO G1 is one of the largest commercial satellites ever built and is specifically designed to deliver signals to mobile and portable devices.

If the launch is successful, ICO will be the first mobile satellite services provider to become operational, and the first to deploy DVB-SH (digital video broadcast - satellite-to-handheld) technology in the United States.

There will be a live webcast of the launch starting at 3:40pm ET - the launch window is from 4:12pm - 5:12pm EST - so check it out. If the launch slips, they'll start it up again tomorrow at around the same time.

Remember when I said internet in your car may come sooner than you think? Well guess what, Chrysler is saying it will be the first car company to provide in-car Internet access - availability will come later this year.

The third-largest U.S. automaker will have the capability added to existing vehicles by dealers beginning this year, and later will be factory-installed on the assembly line.

The Washington Post is reporting that Chrysler will use a cellular signal and a mobile phone account to give passengers access to the web.

"We want to make the radio itself a WiFi port," said Frank Klegon, Chrysler's product development chief.

And this is just the beginning of Chrysler's connectivity plans. Hey DOJ, are you watching this?

[Washington Post via Autoblog, Engadget]

The 2009 Nissan Maxima, which makes its debut today at the NY Autoshow, will offer XM NavTraffic as a standard, factory-installed feature when equipped with Nissan's Hard Drive Navigation system.

All XM NavTraffic equipped models come with a 3-month complimentary subscription.

XM NavTraffic is available on Nissan Murano, Armada, Altima, Altima Coupe, Altima Hybrid, and Pathfinder, as part of packages equipped with a navigation system. NavTraffic will soon be available on the 2009 GT-R.

The 2009 Nissan Maxima interior, dubbed the "Super Cockpit" by Nissan's design team, also features a number of technologies (in addition to the Hard Drive nav system with XM NavTraffic) including a RearView Monitor, Voice Recognition and 9.3GB Music Box Hard Drive.

Click the jump to see interior/dash photos...

The second-generation 2009 Acura TSX, which will be unveiled today at the 2008 New York Autoshow, will integrate the new XM NavWeather real-time weather tracking service with "Threat Matrix" technology as part of a multitude of technological features found in Acura's Technology Package.

Acura's Technology Package adds XM NavWeather alongside the Acura Navigation System with Voice Recognition, and AcuraLink - which provides real-time traffic powered by XM NavTaffic. The new TSX will also, and obviously, offer XM Satellite Radio.

XM NavWeather (which we first saw on the Acura RL at the Chicago Auto Show) integrates with the TSX's Navigation System to display information via color weather icons or warning signals on-screen, and gives the driver the option to easily re-route around a storm's path. The service also provides multi-day forecasts based on weather monitoring stations across the United States.

And while XM NavWeather's "Threat Matrix" technology sounds rather perilous, it's main focus is to disseminate a large amount of data and provide it to the driver for "eyes on road" use. Threat Matrix tracks nationwide weather information for more than 20 different weather conditions, then scales and customizes this detail to the driver's specific location and route.

The new Acura TSX comes with a USB port, AUX jack, and Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, while the Technology Package adds on a 10-speaker Acura/ELS premium sound system with DVD-audio designed by Grammy Award winning producer/engineer Elliot Scheiner.

Click the jump to view photos of XM NavWeather in the new TSX...

The all-new 2009 Ford Flex, on display this week at the 2008 New York Autoshow, will feature a myriad of class-leading technologies including Sirius Satellite Radio, the latest version of Ford SYNC, voice-activated navigation, an 8-inch touchscreen display and data services through Sirius Travel Link.

The Flex utilizes a contemporary design that the company labels as "polarizing." So polarizing, in fact, that Ford is not predicting sales metrics or defining a profile for the Flex target buyer.

"Flex is a radical departure," said Peter Horbury, Ford's executive director, Design, The Americas. "At first we were uncomfortable with the way Flex could polarize, but its ability to compel an opinion, good or bad, was fascinating. It inspired us forward with courage to create a breakthrough design."

Technological Features:
The 2009 Ford Flex includes the latest version of Ford SYNC (which now has 911 Assist and Vehicle Health Reports), voice activated navigation, Sirius Satellite Radio and Sirius Travel Link.

Sirius Travel Link will provide users with a suite of data services including real-time traffic, coast-to-coast weather conditions and fuel price information for over 120,000 gas stations - all on an 8-inch touchscreen display.

Meanwhile, Sirius Satellite Radio is heard through a 700-watt, 10-speaker Sony audio system with 5.1 surround sound. Ford's voice-activated navigation allows for voice control of the entire system including GPS destination entry, climate controls, Sirius Travel Link, and Sirius Satellite Radio.

The Flex goes on sale this summer and will be on display at the 2008 New York International Auto Show.

Follow the jump for additional interior images of the Flex. Orbitcast will be live from NYIAS today, so expect more photos soon...

ICO Global Communications will be launching their satellite, the ICO G-1, from Cape Canaveral, Florida in April.

The geosynchronous satellite will be used to transmit video, navigation and emergency assistance information to mobile devices in vehicles. The service, called ICO mim (mim = "mobile interactive media") will be run in trial-mode by the end of this year, and will be offered commercially in early 2009, according to ICO executives.

ICO has spent $450-$500 million in the new program, and just spent $44 million to get the satellite insured. The launch and in-orbit insurance coverage is for up to $344 million during the launch phase and up to $278 million during the in-orbit phase.

ICO G-1, built by Space Systems/Loral, will be launched by Lockheed Martin on April 14th. The spacecraft will be shipped to the Cape this week.

[ICO]

Garmin has just announced what Engadget calls an "iPhone-like" smartphone - the nuviphone.

The smartphone is a quad-band HSDPA device, equipped with WiFi, Bluetooth, full Web Browser, PIM, and - you guessed it - GPS functions. It'll run off of Garmin's own operating system with the user interface based on the current one Garmin's PNDs utilize. Oh, and that 3.5-inch LCD display? It's, of course, a full touchscreen.

Pricing and availability will reportedly be announced soon.

Now, if there's any gripe folks have had about satellite radio's retail strategy - it's been the lack of integration in PNDs and Cellphones. Well, now Garmin's gone and made those two, one and the same.

[Engadget]

This is the second part of my experience with ICO mim at CES 2008. Read Part 1 here.

As part of my meeting with ICO Global Communications at CES I had the distinct opportunity to ride in a vehicle outfitted with their Mobile Interactive Media ("mim") service. The vehicle had LCD screens everywhere you looked, all streaming live video direct from ICO mim. The accompanying photos are all taken from within that vehicle.

Since the satellite is scheduled to launch in March, the service was being provided through a terrestrial signal coming from a temporary tower called a COW ("Cellsite On Wheels"). We'll cover more on the COW later.

But first, I know what you're thinking. Is broadcast video really something that the public would want in their cars? Afterall, drivers should be spending their time watching the road, not watching TV. But, it looks like ICO has factored all that in.

For instance, with the advent of polarized screens, drivers can view the GPS navigation interface (provided by ICO mim) while passengers can view the live video content (also provided by ICO mim). In addition, the driver can listen to the video content as if it's a radio (much like how Sirius and XM broadcast the TV feed of CNN, CNBC, Fox, etc). But once the vehicle in is park, the driver can choose to watch sections of the broadcast after the fact - all because the feed is cached much like a DVR/TiVo.

Also ICO mim doesn't just provide mobile video content, it also will offer vehicle assistance similar OnStar. In fact, they pointed out that there is no "star" in OnStar because the service is cellular based - if you have no signal, you have no assistance. ICO mim will provide true nationwide roadside assistance, regardless of whether there's a cell signal.

Navigation capabilities are very similar to what XM and Sirius are rolling out with NavTraffic/NavWeather and Traffic Link. ICO mim will provide real-time traffic and weather alerts, and re-route you based on the conditions ahead.

But there's also an added layer of interactivity.

Using you're regular internet connection at home or work, ICO mim will let you pre-program tasks and activities into your account. Then you can download and access them from your car. So you don't just have the regular points-of-interest on your navigation system, you have personalized data and a custom agenda for use on the road. Pretty cool.

My next question was about content. It's all fine and dandy to have the mobile video capabilities, but that's useless until you have something that people want to watch. That's when ICO told me that they just signed a deal with NBC Universal, and the stream we were watching was live MSNBC. Suddenly this took on a whole new level of reality.

Follow the jump for additional in-vehicle photos (and I do apologize for the blurry shots)...