At Sprint, our vision goes beyond connecting millions of cars. We want to provide ‘Connected Transportation’ to trucks, buses, subways, taxis, planes, police cars and ambulances so that they can be instantly linked through voice, data and images. These capabilities can turn a vehicle into a multi-dimensional communications center to improve driver performance, help reduce accidents, provide significant safety benefits, enhance fleet management logistics for businesses and have a potentially profound impact on environmental sustainability.

—Dan Hesse

Connected Transportation helps companies better manage logistics to optimize, schedule, monitor and track deliveries, personnel and vehicles. This enables drivers to waste less fuel looking for delivery destinations, gas stations and other locales, while reducing emissions and carbon footprints, decreasing costs and creating enhanced personnel comfort and organizational efficiencies. At the same time, Connected Transportation technology is helping first-time and professional drivers learn safer driving habits. In describing Sprint’s role in this rapidly expanding market, Hesse made note of three new significant partnerships—with Hyundai, PACCAR and Ecotality—using Sprint’s networks and M2M technology:

• Safety, Productivity and Convenience for Hyundai. Aeris Communications, a Sprint strategic partner, will leverage Sprint’s national network to provide cellular connectivity to Hyundai Motor America’s Blue Link connected vehicle program launching in 2011.

  Hyundai worked closely with ATX, the telematics service provider and Aeris to build Blue Link, a connected vehicle program that incorporates safety and security, entertainment, productivity and convenience features. Through its close relationship with Sprint, Aeris provides ATX and Hyundai access into a 3G and 4G cellular infrastructure.

  Hyundai’s Blue Link system provides for Automated Crash Notification, SOS Assistance, Stolen Vehicle Recovery and a number of other features.

• Reduced Emissions and Fuel Costs Plus Driver Productivity and Comfort. PACCAR, parent company of Peterbilt and Kenworth Class 5-8 commercial vehicles, is working with Sprint to introduce a new integrated mobile computing, telematics, navigation and business system, branded as SmartNav for Peterbilt and NavPlus for Kenworth.

  This solution from PACCAR and Sprint provides diagnostics/logistics, back-office, GPS/location-based services and other functionality to truck operators, who can achieve enhanced communications with dispatchers, logistics providers and shippers, while improving driver productivity and comfort on the road.

• Monitoring, Electronic Payments and Digital Information for EV Charging Stations. Sprint is also working with ECOtality to provide comprehensive wireless connectivity to more than 15,000 residential and commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout ECOtality’s nationwide Blink Network.

  ECOtality has begun installing the first of nearly 15,000 Level 2 EV charging stations along with more than 300 DC Fast Chargers at public and commercial sites throughout 2011. For ECOtality’s commercial charging stations, Sprint’s data network and technology will also help to process a variety of electronic payments, and even deliver digital content for advertising and information.

Other partnerships include:

• Enhanced Public Safety through Connected Emergency Vehicles. Supported by Sprint 3G and 4G networks, police cars in San Jose, CA and ambulances across the United States are using technology from Feeney Wireless to create increased access and GPS/location-based connections to facilities, databases, dispatchers and fellow staff members for enhanced public safety, communications and reporting capabilities.

  Feeney Wireless, which helps companies and public agencies develop M2M and mobile operations, provides connected transportation solutions which give personnel the ability to retrieve fingerprint and photo files, reports/records, remote information filing/retrieval and other services from the field when time is of the essence.

• Improved Driver Training. DriveCam has developed a device which turns on a camera when g-forces indicate a driver is driving dangerously. The camera records the dangerous action and notifies the parents or fleet manager. American Family Insurance offers the DriveCam program at no charge to all of its families with insured teen drivers.

• Expanded Passenger Connectivity and Infotainment in the Air and on the Rails. Continental Airlines and Amtrak are already working with Sprint to install Wi-Fi, digital signage and other applications to enhance their passengers’ experience.