BMW today announced the availability of Real Time Traffic Information — a service that will offer timely traffic information and dynamic rerouting on the 3-,5-, and 6-series passenger cars, and the X5 SUV. Unlike other traffic information servides that charge a recurring monthly fee or require customers to pay for an additional satellite radio service, BMW has included RTTI as part of the cost of the navigation system. BMW’s new RTTI service will be available in as many as 44 major metropolitan markets through Clear Channel’s Total Traffic Network, Clear Channel Radio’s award-winning programming and technology service that delivers Real Time Traffic Information directly to vehicles over its extensive network of FM radio stations. There are no activation fees or recurring monthly charges to BMW customers for 4 years.
Up-to-date traffic information is compiled from a variety of sources including FM radio stations, highway-embedded sensors, video monitors on bridges and roadways, and local traffic monitoring centers. Traffic data is then streamed to a dedicated tuner in the car’s radio and transferred directly to the navigation system. So customers can receive traffic updates from a variety of stations, 24 hours a day, seven days a week-even when the radio is turned off or when the customer is listening to other entertainment sources such as a CD or iPod. The navigation system calculates the best route considering the traffic incidents and potential delays. In addition to alerting the driver to where the traffic is, if the delay is calculated to be more than 5 minutes then the navigation system will offer alternative routes around the congestion, either automatically or at the choice of the driver.
