700 MHz Airwave Auctions held for early 2008 in USA and the subsequent openness of the controversial C Block to be realized by Verizon Wireless, the successful bidder Academic research Scientific research and market-based R&D endeavors are focused on harnessing vehicle traffic and wireless connections. MIT embarked on Real Time Rome, a project that is designed to create real-time maps of people moving around a city through mobile phone networks with the aim of beating traffic congestion. "Real Time Rome might also help with the better allocation of transport resources." UCLA researchers are working on a project to encourage installation of vehicle-to-vehicle mobile computer networks to ensure driving safety and deal with congestions. Challenges for automakers Automakers challenges include: how to improve fuel efficiency in keeping with green technology how to enhance driving safety, mainly based on electronic gadgets how to adapt to fast-evolving mobile broadband technology to stay ahead of competition. Topping the list of dashtop gadgetry issues are MP3 players, video streaming and playback, mega-bit-per-second downloads of multimedia, mobile TV formats, dashtop interfaces either for mobile phones or smartphones, choices of 4G technologies between LTE, UMB and mobile WiMAX. Scope of applications Vehicular mobility to lure more BWA equipment and applications Scope of applications, either on lab benches or in implementation stages, can be summarized as below: Just In Time (JIT) eCommerce on the go mobile banking mobile advertising mobile marketing location-based services (LBS) mobile ticketing & remote check-in processes for transport hubs, ballparks and expos (Compare with "cellphone use as paperless boarding pass") mass surveillance at transportation hubs, targeted at both passengers and motorists distance mobile payment of parking fees, tolls, bills ( in terms of range and real-time sync, it differs from proximity-based mobile payments, such as contactless payment, Near Field Communication (NFC), smartcards, RFID tags, and online payments like PayPal and Google Checkout ) mobile entertainment, including paid downloading of music, movies, video games and playback functions. Microsoft is showcasing such features in its Windows Mobile for Automotive. Mobile vehicle-to-vehicle driving safety monitoring See also Automotive design References External links MIT Real Time Rome project Mobile Commerce Times Automotive accessories