C-IQ, Conrad Anderson UK

C-IQ

A new route to your destination. With its switch to DVD, VDO Dayton is introducing a new concept for navigation systems with C-IQ
(17th September 2002)

VDO Dayton is once again living up to its name as a trend-setter. This autumn, the high-end in-car multimedia brand will not just establish itself as one of the first navigation providers in Europe to offer DVD-based vehicle navigation, but will also be taking its concept one step further. In order to exploit the opportunities offered by DVD-based navigation more effectively so that content can be both tailored and economically viable, VDO Dayton has developed a new concept: C-IQ. The DVD will be supplied free of charge, and, in contrast to conventional DVD or CD-ROM-based systems, a regular update will also be available, free of charge. With an intelligent system using access codes, drivers will be able to purchase authorisation in a matter of seconds to access their own individual content packages (comprising navigation road data, travel info and traffic information) on the DVD for a period of days, months or the whole year.

C-IQ means that in the future customers will be able easily to configure their own per-sonal navigation package wherever they are, selecting from a wide range of country-specific data. This new generation of flexible navigation content will ensure that customers always have the most up-to-date data at their fingertips. Users can define their own content, scope and availability period, and need only pay for the content they actually use.

VDO Dayton provides its customers with a wide range of C-IQ products in the navigation/road data, travel info and traffic information categories on DVD. With two DVD containing either road data from data providers NavTech or TeleAtlas, VDO Dayton offers C-IQ navigation products for 23 European countries, covering up to four million kilometers of roads on one DVD. These C-IQ products on one DVD contain around 500,000 additional useful information for the whole of Europe, such as petrol stations, tourists attractions or hospitals locations, as well as TMC encoding for dynamic routing, direct-ing users around traffic jams in 13 countries. In addition, drivers can also take advantage of further C-IQ travel info products, currently numbering 11, from renowned publishers such as the Varta Guide, Merian autoscout and the Michelin Guide.

Working with this new concept for navigation systems is simple – all the technical configuration and all road network data is supplied to the customer on the free DVD that accompanies the navigation system. The DVD is regularly updated and the new version sent to the customer (This service is not available for customers with time-unlimited authorisations). To configure and use this information for their own particular needs, customers then use special access codes which grant access to the different country data and additional services for a period of days, months or a whole year. Services are billed using a simple and inexpensive charging system. In this way, drivers can plan their own requirements intelligently – usually activating the data for their home country for the whole year, but also with the option of adding, for example, the Italian road network map for their two weeks on vacation. And for business trips to Brussels there is no need to buy new mapping software – just purchase access authorisation for the Belgian data for the appropriate couple of days. Similarly, drivers can purchase access to the Michelin Guide, Varta Guide and Merian autoscout travel guides. Each set of data is always up to date, thanks to the free DVD update.

Drivers can retrieve the access codes for the Intelligent Content on Demand at any time and from any location by going to our website at www.vdodayton.com, where they can put together their own personal navigation package with just a few clicks of their mouse. Alternatively, VDO Dayton has also set up a CIQ Service Centre for users on the move. This call centre is available free of charge from anywhere in Europe, on 00 800 99 33 33 33. The code required to access the corresponding DVD content is given to the user either directly, by e-mail or by SMS. Customers can also continue to approach their dealers, to obtain codes there.

C-IQ will make a name for itself as a concept for navigation systems. Initially, this con-cept was designed for the MS 5500 DVD-based navigation system, which will be in the shops from November. In the medium term, however, the concept will be ported to other VDO Dayton navigation systems. In addition, the first vehicle constructors are working together with Siemens VDO Trading, to provide C-IQ in conjunction with their own OEM systems.