Accenture Collaborates with GM Europe’s OnStar in Leading-Edge Telematics Field Trial

FRANKFURT; Dec. 19, 2002 – Accenture, the world´s leading management consulting and technology services company, is taking part in a major General Motors Europe Field Trial to identify and assess selected Telematics Services and to evaluate the ACUNIA Open Telematics Framework® (OTF) as a new delivery technology. In the six-month study, which began in July and runs through December 2002, GM Europe’s OnStar group will evaluate a variety of new telematics services in an OTF in-car delivery environment under real driving conditions.

“We are very optimistic about the future potential of the technologies and services we are testing in this study. GM Europe’s OnStar group, working closely with Opel, is testing what we think represents the future standard for in-car telematics,” said Jonathan Browning, Vice President of GM Europe’s Sales, Marketing and Aftersales. “What makes this study particularly important is the participation of innovative industry leaders, like Accenture, without whose support and expertise we could not have moved so quickly to test tomorrow’s telematics possibilities.”

“The services and portal we developed specially for this field trial minimize the attention required by the driver when the operating the vehicle, while offering maximum convenience and business benefits,” said Michael Jeltsch, a partner in Accenture’s automotive practice.

The Accenture system developed with OnStar is based on computers embedded in the vehicle that are wirelessly linked to a specific Internet portal where motorists can select and modify services from a menu of options. The system marks a departure from services currently commercially available which rely on mobile telephones with voice connections to call centers.

The GM Europe telematics field trial involves a fleet of Opel cars in Germany equipped with the ACUNIA OTF. With the ACUNIA OTF, users will be able to subscribe and unsubscribe to an “unlimited” range of information and services at any time and any place. Applications become lightweight and are gathered on a single Java-™-based platform which enables them to run on multiple communication devices. OnStar Europe teamed up with multiple service providers to generate and operate Java™-based services, which can be remotely downloaded to the user’s in-vehicle terminal.

Selected telematics service providers were asked to participate in the study by providing services compatible with the OTF delivery technology, requiring identification, development, testing, deployment and maintenance of these services, which could form the basis for the future telematics business of OnStar Europe.

About OnStar
OnStar is GM Europe’s information, communications and entertainment arm. The OnStar Service offers a seamless customer experience, as personalized services can be accessed through different channels - while being in the car, on the move, at home, or in the office. OnStar uses wireless communication to link the driver and vehicle to the OnStar Service Center, where OnStar Assistants provide real-time, personalized assistance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Via OnStar C@rWeb (a PDA in combination with a mobile phone) or via OnStar WAP (when using any mobile phone supporting WAP) drivers can also be connected with the Internet based OnStar Mobility Portal to get access to their personalized service suite. OnStar services today include latest traffic information, route guidance / planning, OnStar SOS Service Call, breakdown assistance, a city guide with information on hotels and restaurants, leisure time activities, the “scene”, sightseeing tips , and more.

About Accenture
Accenture is the world’s leading management consulting and technology services company. Committed to delivering innovation, Accenture collaborates with its clients to help them realize their visions and create tangible value. With deep industry expertise, broad global resources and proven experience in consulting and outsourcing, Accenture can mobilize the right people, skills, alliances and technologies. With more than 75,000 people in 47 countries, the company generated net revenues of $11.6 billion for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2002. Its home page is www.accenture.com.

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