Please provide scenarios about how traveling by public transport
(buses, trains, metro) will develop in future years, with regard to
on-board multimedia and communications (TV, movies, music, news,
online connectivity).

---

Request for Question Clarification by easterangel-ga on 27 Nov 2003 18:14 PST

Hi!

I have found articles of hi-tech entertainment and communications
systems being implemented by only a few companies on their trains and
buses today and could possibly show the trend in the future. Would
articles like these be ok as an answer?

Thanks!

---

Clarification of Question by joliette-ga on 28 Nov 2003 01:46 PST

Hello easterangel,

in that case it would be helpful to have as much information as
possible about these companies, including case studies of their
implementations, prices for the consumers etc.

Thank you!

---

Request for Question Clarification by easterangel-ga on 28 Nov 2003 01:55 PST

Hi!

It seems that we can only get the articles. Most pf them are like news
articles. There are some case studies but not much on the pricing
side. Will this still be ok?

Thanks again.

---

Clarification of Question by joliette-ga on 28 Nov 2003 02:43 PST

Okay, provided that these articles are recent (2003, 2002), please post them. 

Thank you.

Hi! Thanks for the question.

I have found the following 2002 to 2003 articles about the future
trends of public transport on-board entertainment and communication.


----------------------------
Entertainment and Navigational Systems:

?Blaupunkt USA offers vehicle products like car navigation systems and
high-power amplifiers. The company now works with manufacturers such
as Motor Coach Industries to install systems in new coaches. Options
include global positioning systems and DVD/MP3 players. New equipment
can range from $1,000 for a standard vehicle tracking or PA system up
to about $25,000 for a media system enabling each passenger to select
his own video program?

?Philadelphia-based NRoute Communications, Inc., offers a security
system with vehicle tracking and alerts such as potential local road
hazards, along with short broadcasts on news, weather, sports, home,
health, and work, with advertisements.?

?Bus Ride Magazine - October 2003: That's entertainment ? by Carolyn Sostrom?
https://www.busride.com/2003/10/That_s_entertainment.asp

Companies Mentioned:

Blaupunkt USA
http://www.blaupunktusa.com/BlaupunktUSA 

NRoute Communications
http://www.nroute.net/



Another technology being implemented is in Hong Kong called the
Multi-Media On- Board (MMOB) service.

?KMB is the first to introduce a Multi-Media On- Board (MMOB) service
in its line of public buses, providing a variety of on-board
information including education, finance, entertainment,
advertisement, games -- the variety is building.?

?Consumer, or the Consumed? MMOB reverses consumer's identity?
http://www.media-culture.org.au/reviews/features/interactive/alee-c.html 

Our next link provides a study of the improvement needs at the MMOB.

?RoadShow Multimedia On Board (MMOB) Service Consultative Meeting?
http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr01-02/english/panels/tp/papers/tp0524cb1-1783-1e.pdf 



Alstom Telecite even provides video-on-demand systems for trains and buses.

Alstom Telecite Products
http://www.telecite.com/products.html# 



-------------------------------
Broadband Internet and Wi-fi on Buses and Trains:

Broadband Satellite Internet Connection on Buses by Sirius
http://www.nsab-sirius.com/images/Uplink_Juni_En.pdf 
http://www.nsab-sirius.com/

?Exclusive: GNER to offer wireless broadband on trains?
http://www.silicon.com/networks/broadband/0,39024661,10005511,00.htm 
http://www.gnermobileoffice.co.uk/GNERMobileOffice/howdoesitwork/ 

?Mobile communications center by T-Systems?
http://www.t-systems.com/ipl2/statics/923/downloads/press_kits/railtec2003/228_03_PM_railtec_internetbb_2003_11_10_en.pdf
http://www.t-systems.com/TSIcom/cda/index_frame_800x600/1,3549,4846-1110,00.html 

MeshNetworks
http://www.meshnetworks.com/pages/solutions/mobile_wifi.htm 
http://www.meshnetworks.com/pages/aboutus/intro_aboutus.htm 


Our next link is actually a case study of implementing Wi-Fi hotspots in buses.

?Bringing connectivity to passengers on trains and on campus buses is
already in practice, however there is no implementation of mobile
hotpots on public buses in the world. The Altamont Commuter Express,
which runs between Stockton and San Jose [6], offer wi-fi Internet
access and some commuter trains in Japan have wi-fi access offered by
wireless phone carriers such as NTT Docomo. The challenge to provide
connectivity on buses over trains is that buses have no fix tracks,
while fix access points (AP) could be installed along train tracks.
Students at the University of California at San Diego have access on
CyberShuttle buses that drive them to and around the campus using a
combination of 802.11b and CDMA2000 technology [7]. As connections are
handled by one AP on campus, this technology is currently restricted
to a small area only. Effort needs to be expended to further extend
the technology to a metropolitan scale area.?

?Mobile hotspots on Sydney public buses could be made possible
combining a 802.11 LAN on bus and an external WAN connection. This
project is about the finding of a most suitable methodology for data
collection and the analysis of the GPRS data, in order to conclude the
performance of the GPRS network. The data collection process involves
travelling along Sydney public bus routes and collect ?GPRS data? of
the GPRS network provided by Vodafone, Australia. The ?GPRS data? will
be the measuring of throughput and signal strength in the GPRS
network.?

?Mobile Hotspots on Sydney Public Buses?
http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~ylic493/thesis/  



If Wi-Fi will be prevalent in trains and buses then gamers can be
benefited since the infrastructure will already be there for network
gaming.

?WiFi trains will be available in a number of countries in the near
future, including UK, Sweden, Canada and USA, with some already
offering trail and test services to their customers. WiFi on the move
will allow the current hoards of suit-wearing commuters to surf the
web and check email on their laptops or PDAs, and could open up a
whole host of other possibilities, including hi-speed LAN parties and
instant message flirting with members of the opposite sex.?

?With this in mind, and the fact that Train-WiFi will allow a
virtually unlimited number of users to connect to the train's local
area network, keen gamers both young and old will [in theory] be able
to host and join LAN parties with other passengers on the train.
Imagine a game of Unreal Tournament with all those other [usually]
silent types sitting up the carriage. This could prove to be a great
experience - a high speed LAN, and many potential gamers - if you
could just get their attention. Of couse, alot of commuters will be
busy continuing with their work, and may not even be interested in
winding down with a quick shoot-em-up on the tracks.?

?Game on the Train??
http://www.rawgamer.com/news/pagewriter.php/0,0,0,301.html 


----------------------
Multi-Language Systems 

Multivox (multi-lingual commentary system) for tour operators:
Specifically for tour operators. Automatically translates voice of
tour guide into 16 languages.
http://www.actia.co.uk/multi_intro.htm 


Search terms used:                          
Future trains buses mobile communications wi-fi broadband ?on-board
entertainment? video-on-demand systems
                 
I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
                         
Thanks for visiting us.                         
                         
Regards,                         
Easterangel-ga                         
Google Answers Researcher

Thank you, your answer was very helpful.