Wireless deal launched

Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2000 | 11:09 a.m.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DEARBORN, Mich. -- Ford Motor Co. and Qualcomm Inc. have formed a joint venture to snag a share of what they hope will be a lucrative market for wireless services such as Internet access in cars and trucks.

The move announced Monday mirrors the plans General Motors Corp. has laid out for its OnStar service; by 2004, the automakers expect to have the systems on nearly all the vehicles they sell in the United States -- about nine million a year.

Behind both plans is the bet that millions of drivers will be willing to pay up to $30 a month to hear e-mail read to them, make phone calls or have extra security systems.

"We want all of our cars and trucks to become personalized portals for our global consumers," said Ford Chief Executive Officer Jac Nasser.

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