Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., AT&T, NTT DOCOMO, INC., and Telenor Connexion announced that the Nissan LEAF system marketed as Nissan Connect powered by CARWINGS has been awarded the Global Mobile Awards 2011 prize for the "Best Mobile Innovation for Automotive and Transport" at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. This "Information and Communication Technology system (ICT) for electric vehicles" won the award that honors excellence and innovation in mobile communications.
The GSMA's Global Mobile Awards offer organizations across the global mobile ecosystem the opportunity to showcase the latest and best mobile products, services and initiatives to the world.
The telematics service is installed in the all-new Nissan LEAF, launched in Japan and the United States in December 2010 and will go on sale in Europe this quarter. ICT helps deliver greater convenience, comfort and security for Nissan LEAF owners, as well as provides real-world data that is important to realizing a low-carbon society in the future.
With the ICT system, Nissan LEAF owners are constantly connected to the data and information they need to optimize their EV experience. The NISSAN CARWINGS Data Center, an information control center communicates with the car navigation system via the onboard Telematics Communication Unit (TCU). ICT has features unique to EVs, including EV usage history and battery conditions. Remote control for battery charging and climate control is also available. The system can be accessed by a dedicated website for EV owners, via mobile phones, smart phones and computers to manage energy usage.
AT&T, NTT DOCOMO, INC., and Telenor Connexion provide mobile networks services for Nissan LEAF's intelligent transport system in the United States, Japan and Europe respectively, connecting the electric car's sophisticated onboard communication unit and the NISSAN CARWINGS Data Center.
The GSMA represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry. Spanning 219 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world's mobile operators, as well as more than 200 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset makers, software companies, equipment providers, Internet companies, and media & entertainment organizations.