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)...

ICO Global Communications first caught my attention back in June 2007 after they announced a partnership with Alcatel-Lucent and Hughes. That's when I first learned about "ICO mim" (which stands for "Mobile Interactive Media"), and the potential of a new mobile entertainment platform entering the market.

When the company said they would be demonstrating ICO mim at CES this year, I jumped on the opportunity. Afterall, this is a company that will be launching a satellite in March, and delivering live broadcast media nationwide through a hybrid (satellite + terrestrial repeater) network. Just like what Sirius and XM currently do.

What I learned, and experienced first hand, is by far the next-generation in mobile entertainment. I absolutely believe that this is what "satellite radio" will transform into for the years ahead.

In fact, after spending a couple hours with the company at CES, I'm initiating ongoing coverage of ICO. I think this is definitely a company to watch.

ICO mim calls itself a "converged mobile media service" that offers live (and cached) mobile video in vehicles, interactive navigation, as well as roadside assistance. But understand that data is data. Just as Sirius and XM are able to provide live video, next-gen navigation services, as well as a myriad of other satellite-based services - ICO (pronounced eye-ko) will be able to do the same.

The company also plans to make the service interactive, with social networking capabilities, meaning that it won't just be a dumb "bent pipe" but rather will progressively build itself as consumers use it. And I have a feeling that's just the beginning.

Follow the jump for more photos and a further explanation of my experience with ICO mim...