10/9/2001

In morning, I went to the adult disease laboratory in Shinjyuku to file the application for influenza preventive shot. Then I went to the Kinokuniya Book Store after months which is located in a big building next to Takashimaya Department Stores and Tokyu Hands. At the entrance to the promenade deck from the south exit of JR Shinjyuku station toward JR East office building and a newly built hotel, a few guardmans were watching the passerbyes. The years old construction works of a few tall buildings and a bridge crossing over the rail ways were finished. The view of tall buildings has been completed.

After supper at my home, I went out to make a walk and came to the front of an embassy building of a Middle East country. Usually I have not seen many lights from the building after dark. But tonight the front gate hall was a dazzle of bright lights. I thought this was to protect themselves from terrorists attack.

On September 5, Toyota Motor and General Motors (GM) co-announced that they agreed to conduct a joint feasibility study of telematics services in the Japanese market. Under the eight-month agreement the two companies will explore collaborative opportunities in telematic services in the Japanese market based on the business scheme for Toyota's vehicle information network service. They will specifically discuss the feasibility of standardizing or jointly using techonoloby, hardware, in structure and services for telecom carriers, communication modules and onboard terminals. They also study the possibility of jointly using the entire infrastructure essential for the deployment of telematics services including service contracts with telecom providers, content development and settlement. I have been of the opinion that all auto manufacturers should use the same telematic service systems. With this agreement, they came closer to my target irefer to Travel Diary May 19, 2001 .jThe Products of GM include Suzuki, Subaru, Isuzu and also Opel of Germany. The Lexus of Toyota has adopted GM's OnStar in the U.S. market. As BMW used the same OnStar system in U.S. market, it will probably join them in the Japanese market.

The OnStar's hand free phone system works well as it is designed finely. And also its concierge service is excellent. I hope these systems will be adopted by their new system. SECOM ( a leading security company in Japan) started an emergency rescue service from last September. It is desirable that the new telematic services will take in such a system too. You want also to communicate with a friend in the other car easily. All these things are possible only when all vehicles are installed with the same basic system for the communication. Thus, every vehicle will be able to have the same emergency call system. These systems should not be made only for luxury vehicles but for commercial vehicles and also for midget vehicles. Taking this opportunity, the information services for vehicles will move forward where it should be, I expect.

Back to Calender