Analysts doubt EC’s approach to eCall

Date: 9/12/2009

Source: ITS International

Strategy Analytics Wireless Enterprise Strategies report, “eCall Gets the Green Light: But It's Bad News for Wireless Carriers and Automakers” highlights what some analysts believe is a flaw with the approach adopted by the EC to eCall implementation.

The analysts who prepared the report believe that under the current approach neither vehicle manufacturers nor wireless carriers will benefit from eCall. “It is hard to argue the virtue of saving lives and speeding assistance to crash victims. But in a free market, the value of such a system or service, if demonstrable or self-evident, should not require a mandate and should not be free. It is unfortunate that the European Commission could not simply have mandated the eCall system without mandating the technology,” commented Andrew Brown, director of Wireless Enterprise and co-author of the report.

The report also highlights that use of a voice channel is likely to restrict the ability of suppliers to add Value Added Services at low cost.

ITS Radar International will continue to monitor eCall

Keywords: Emergency, European Commission, In-vehicle systems, Policy, Safety, Standard