September 23, 1999 Web posted at: 1:26 p.m. EDT (1726 GMT) by Laura Rohde

From...

(IDG) -- Philips Semiconductors, a division of Philips Electronics, has announced its Nexperia Car Infotainment Platform (CIP) that will allow auto makers to hook cars up to the Internet.

The company promises the Nexperia CIP platform will make it easy for those in the auto industry to develop systems for cars including e-mail, Internet access and online street directions or traffic reports, as well as pumping up the old-fashioned car music system.

MORE COMPUTING INTELLIGENCE
	IDG.net home page
Make your PC work harder with these tips
Car gadgets of the (near) future
Rental-car site lets customers name their price

The Nexperia CIP is a generic platform structure that is scalable and includes a reference architecture, as well as specific hardware and software, Philips Semiconductors said in a statement.

The Philips Semiconductors announcement comes fresh on the heels of an agreement by L.M. Ericsson Telephone Co. and Mannesmann VDO to partner on a project creating similar wireless mobile communication for cars with both WAP (wireless application protocol) and Bluetooth capabilities.

The information and entertainment system will put Internet terminals, faxes, stereos and video inside of the car, Ericsson said.

Laura Rohde is London correspondent for the IDG News Service.