Hino Motors, Ltd.
KDDI Corporation
Nippon Ericsson K.K.


2002.10.17

Hino, KDDI and Ericsson Develop "BT Conductor"*1
- Bus Boarding/Disembarking Assistance System that utilizes Mobile Handsets -




The following three companies: Hino Motors, Ltd. (hereafter, Hino), KDDI Corporation (hereafter, KDDI), and Nippon Ericsson K.K. (hereafter, Ericsson) have jointly developed "BT Conductor," a public/private bus boarding and disembarking assistance system that utilizes mobile handsets and short-range radio technology. "BT Conductor" will be displayed at the Hino Booth of the 36th Tokyo Motor Show beginning on October 29th at the Japan Convention Center in Chiba City (Makuhari Messe).

The three companies have developed this system aiming to provide various services via mobile handsets when boarding/disembarking a bus. The service makes full use of ITS*2 and aims to improve services when there is a constant flow of passengers. The three companies divided their tasks within the project with Hino handling the planning; Ericsson, using BluetoothTM*3 technology, developing the system; and KDDI, which develops ITS business utilizing mobile handsets, coordinating the overall project.

Specifically, Bluetooth wireless technology is used for communicating between mobile handsets of bus passengers and servers installed on buses and bus stops. Passengers with mobile handsets can receive/send information while they are standing on a bus stop or inside a moving bus. This information is transmitted via characters, light and sound, thus making it possible for bus passengers to operate their mobile phones to indicate when they want to get off and also pay their fares electronically. Thus, services previously not provided by conventional mobile handset services are now possible.

From a barrier-free viewpoint, this system makes buses more convenient for people who are not considered regular riders such as the handicapped and foreigners.

In addition, bus operators can streamline single-person-operated bus services and also provide advantages such as common systems interconnected with railways and other public transportation.

The three companies will continue to do more research in this area towards finding a practical application to further improve public and private bus services while raising the performance of mobile handsets and widening the penetration of Bluetooth.

*1: BT Conductor: "BT" is taken from 'Bus Transport' and 'Bluetooth Transmit' and "Conductor" represents the mobile handset functioning like a bus driver
*2: Intelligent Transport Systems
*3: Bluetooth is the international standard for short-range wireless communications technology that applies 2.4G Hertz band radio waves and networks equipment within a distance of about 10 meters (Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.)



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