Nissan Motor Co. said Tuesday it is preparing to introduce a "telematics" service that will allow drivers hands-free communication and access to various information by connecting their cell phones to an onboard device.
Nissan will begin offering the Carwings service as an option on its March compact car, due for release later this month.
Toyota is scheduled to introduce a similar telematics service later this year, upgrading its current Monet service.
Drivers using Nissan's service will be able to receive traffic, weather, news and other roadside information and will also be able to send their car's location to a personal computer or cell phone. The Carwings unit can also display local maps to help with navigation.
The Carwings onboard unit will be priced around 50,000 yen, and the annual fee for a basic service will cost around 4,000 yen, a Nissan official said.