- Helping ensure the safe use of Smartphone applications while driving -

Kariya (Japan) - The Smartphone has changed the way we do things. Not only is it a phone, but it's an information source that constantly keeps us connected. To help drivers safely stay connected while driving, DENSO has developed ARPEGGiO, a smartphone-based, information system that uses the onboard navigation screen to display and operate smartphone applications.DENSO's ARPEGGiO will be released in Japan next year and the company plans to have the service used worldwide in the future.

"In the last few years the number of smartphone users has rapidly increased," said Hiroyuki Wakabayashi, executive director of DENSO's Information and Safety Systems Business Group. "DENSO used its more than 20 years of car navigation technical expertise and know-how to develop a service that is intended to help users safely enjoy the convenience of smartphones while driving."

To use DENSO's new system, it requires an ARPEGGIO-enabled car navigation system and users will then need to download the respective DENSO ARPEGGiO app to their smartphone. Once complete, the smartphone and car navigation system will automatically communicate with each other through a Bluetooth® connection and display a list of smartphone applications, available through ARPEGGiO, onto the car navigation display.

For safety reasons, the direct use of smartphones while driving is prohibited by many traffic regulations around the world. ARPEGGiO is not just a system that displays the smartphone operation screen on the navigation display. The system modifies the look of the original smartphone application and formats it in a way that's easier to view on the car navigation screen. In addition, to ensure safety, the system is designed to restrict the driver's operation of certain applications while driving.

At present, the preceding application services planned for the Japanese market include:

• Searching for locations and setting destinations
• Playing music stored on smartphones and streaming Internet radio
• Track vehicle fuel efficiency
• Registering the vehicle's current location on social networking services (SNS), such as mixi

Content providers will update information and supply these services through the users smartphones, enabling them to obtain the latest information without updating their car navigation systems. Also, it's important to note, DENSO can add additional applications to meet user wants and needs.

The middleware of ARPEGGiO is light and easy to install on a variety of operating systems (OS), allowing ARPEGGiO to be built into any type of car navigation system.

DENSO Corporation, headquartered in Kariya, Aichi prefecture, Japan, is a leading global automotive supplier of advanced technology, systems and components in the areas of thermal, powertrain control, electric, electronics and information and safety. Its customers include all the world's major carmakers. Worldwide, the company has more than 200 subsidiaries and affiliates in 35 countries and regions (including Japan) and employs approximately 120,000 people.
Consolidated global sales for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011, totaled US$37.7 billion. Last fiscal year, DENSO spent 9.3 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development. DENSO common stock is traded on the Tokyo and Nagoya stock exchanges. For more information, go to www.denso.com, or visit our media website at www.densomediacenter.com.

How ARPEGGiO works

1. Users download the ARPEGGiO application from their selected application store (online application marketplace) to their smartphones.
2. Users bring their smartphone into their car and start the ARPEGGiO application. The car navigation system and smartphone then automatically communicate with each other wirelessly via Bluetooth®.
3. The car navigation system accesses servers that provide ARPEGGiO services via the smartphone to download applications that can be used on ARPEGGiO-enabled navigation systems.

Concept of selecting applications usable on ARPEGGiO

Applications are selected from four categories based on the results of surveys regarding what functions users wish to use while driving

Example of how ARPEGGiO is used (location search)

*The Smartphone will show a locked screen during actual use.

*Bluetooth is a registered trademark of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG).
*mixi is a registered trademark of mixi, Inc.