Mercedes Benz Launches New Telematics Service in the US

The American division of Mercedes-Benz has launched mbrace, a new telematics service in the United States, in cooperation with connected services for automobiles developer Hughes Telematics (HTI). The service is now available in all new Mercedes-Benz vehicles, replacing Tele Aid, the previous system that has been offered by the company for the past 10 years.

No need to panic though, as current owners of Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with the Tele Aid system will be able to upgrade to the new mbrace telematics service. Specifically, mbrace allows drivers to connect with their vehicles via an iPhone or BlackBerry, enabling them to do such things as remotely lock or unlock their vehicles or locate their vehicles in crowded parking lots or on city streets through a map representation on their smart phones.

"When we first launched our Telematics platform it contained features many vehicles still lack today, and now we want to take our offering to the next level," said Sascha Simon, director of advanced product planning, Mercedes-Benz USA, in a statement for the press. "With mbrace, we begin the introduction of a whole new generation of innovative and personalized services that fit our drivers' mobile lifestyles, keeping them connected to the people, places and services that are important to them and offering them enhanced safety, security and navigation options."

The standard mbrace safety and security features include:

• Automatic Collision Notification
• SOS/Emergency Calling
• Safe Ride
• Roadside Assistance Connection (in-vehicle and mobile application)
• Stolen Vehicle Location Assistance
• Automatic Alarm Notification
• Vehicle Information and Crisis Assist
• Search & Send feature
• Remote Door Unlock and Lock (remote application)
• Vehicle Finder (via mobile application)
• Dealer Connect (mobile application)

A premium service, mbrace PLUS, adds such features as Location-Based Weather, Location-Based Traffic, agent-assisted Route Assistance, Point-of-Interest Destination Download (through agent), and "Mercedes-Benz Concierge," which functions much as a hotel concierge making restaurant reservations, locating stores and services, cash wire assistance, etc.