Clear Channel & BMW: Free Traffic Data (The Catch: You Have To Buy A $1,500 Navigation System)

Clear Channel to Give BMWs Free Traffic Data
By JENNIFER SARANOWSeptember 7, 2006; Page D2

Clear Channel Communications Inc.'s Clear Channel Radio plans to announce today that it will provide real-time traffic information for some of BMW AG's 2007 BMW models with a new twist: The data will be included with the price of the navigation system and won't involve subscription fees. Currently, drivers have to pay subscription fees of up to roughly $10 a month to receive information such as traffic-jam locations, accidents and road closures on a vehicle's navigation system.
BMW models that will come with traffic data starting this month and later this fall include the 3.5 and 6 Series and X5, M5, and M6 models. Among other models gaining traffic data for the 2007 model year, XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. is providing real-time traffic information to navigation systems on the 2007 Acura RDX, MDX and TL; the 2007 Lexus LS 460 and LS 460 L and the 2007 Infiniti G35 and 2007 Nissan Altima models. Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. will be providing real-time traffic data for navigation systems in the 2007 Dodge Nitro, Chrysler Sebring and Jeep Wrangler, the first DaimlerChrysler AG Chrysler Group vehicles to get real-time traffic information....
...There is new evidence that auto makers can spur sales of their expensive navigation options if they include real-time data at no charge. According to a study released this month from J.D. Power & Associates looking at what kind of emerging technologies consumers want in their next new vehicle, 28% of respondents said they were likely to purchase a navigation system priced at $1,500. By comparison, if real-time traffic information were offered free as part of the $1,500 navigation system, 44% of respondents said they were likely to purchase the navigation system...read more: HERE

9/07/2006 07:00:00 AM

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