Nissan wins award for groundbreaking mobile phone technology
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
Nissan Motor Company Limited (NML), together with NTT Docomo and Sharp Corporation, has been awarded a prestigious award for advanced vehicle technology at Asia's largest information technology and electronics exhibition, CEATEC Japan 2008, held between 30 September and 04 October. The trio was recognised for its recently launched ‘mobile phone with built-in intelligent key’ in the transportation technology category of the US Tech-pert Panel Award, conferred by a team of American-based judges comprising analysts and journalists from leading IT news groups.
“Joint efforts are becoming more common and powerful,” said panel leader Michael Kanellos of Greentech Media, singling out the collaborative efforts of Nissan, NTT Docomo and Sharp. “These companies worked together on tying the car, PC and mobile phone.”
The convergence of automotive and cellular technologies was made possible by NTT Docomo’s expertise in the marketability of mobile phones, Sharp's development of the phone itself and Nissan's provision of technical support to ensure the key's operability with its vehicles.
The panel of judges, convened by the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) San Francisco, viewed hundreds of technologies, services and products before making their winning choices. Selection criteria related to influence on the United States market; level of innovation and functionality; ease of use; design and; whether a solution was offered for an emerging need.
Also recognised in the Tech-pert Panel Category Award Winners were front-runners in imaging, software, components, networking, display and mobile phones.
Nissan was the first car company to set up a booth at the Automotive Square of the exhibition, a separate section created six years ago to showcase advances in automotive electronics.
“The award is a great achievement for our parent company, which aims to be a leader in specific fields of excellence with regard to key automotive technologies,” said Nissan South Africa (Nissan SA) Managing Director, Mike Whitfield.
Nissan SA is to showcase the Nuvu, an electric concept car reflecting Nissan’s commitment to preservation of the environment and zero emissions, as well as the GT-R, a technologically advanced high performance sports car, at the Johannesburg International Motor Show taking place at the Nasrec Exhibition Centre in the first week of November.
