Java rolls on

STANDARDS: MobileGT architecture steps on the gas

Accelerating the evolution of the MobileGT architecture for automotive driver-information systems, IBM has announced development support in the form of VisualAge Micro Edition. The Java-centric environment supports the development of software components that can be combined into applications for auto systems, PDAs, and other convergence devices. Auto-electronic developers will use the Java-based system to develop in-car systems that can also communicate via wireless links to the Internet. The software will ship this month starting at $1000.

The announcement furthers the efforts of Motorola, IBM, QNX Software Systems, and Embedded Planet to establish MobileGT as a standard automobile-computing platform, just as the PC serves in offices. Target applications include dynamic navigation, speech-based driver interfaces, virtual dashboards, and others. The MobileGT group,

however won't win the car computer battle without a fight. Microsoft, aligned with partner Clarion and others, is touting its Windows-CE-based Auto PC for the same role. And CellPort Labs also offers an auto-computing platform, although it is also based on a QNX OS. All of these computer-industry stalwarts must also realize that the auto industry likes to develop such technologies in house.

—by Maury Wright