Visitors are seen examining the LTE connected concept car near the Alcatel-Lucent stand at QITCOM2011 yesterday. PICTURE: Jayaram
By Pratap John
Alcatel-Lucent has displayed for the first time in Qatar a concept vehicle equipped with an ultra high-speed, high bandwidth connectivity that enables users to access network and cloud-based applications.
Connected with Long Term Evolution (LTE), a wireless broadband technology based on Internet Protocol, the Toyota Prius hybrid offers users access to on-demand entertainment, infotainment, diagnostics, navigation and much more at their fingertips.
The LTE connected car concept is built upon the platform of a 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid. The LTE-connected car has been exhibited near the Alcatel-Lucent stand at the Doha Exhibition Centre.
The Prius has been transformed into a prototype mobile platform with integrated in-vehicle LTE hardware and advanced software systems, where information can be easily accessed and transmitted through the use of high-bandwidth connectivity, cloud-based interactive applications and the next generation of innovative in-car computing platforms.
Alcatel-Lucent’s senior country officer Marc Kassis said the aim behind the concept vehicle is to provide an example of how, when 4G/LTE wireless networks are deployed, the automobile will have the potential to be a truly integrated device. 
The LTE Connected Car concept was developed under the auspices of the ‘ng Connect Program’, co-founded by Alcatel-Lucent in 2009, which is a multi-industry collaboration among leading network, device, application, automotive and content suppliers to develop pre-integrated, tested examples of applications and services for 3G and 4G/LTE networks.
The concept car features a total of four nine-inch touch screens. Two of the touch screens are mounted in the back of the front seat headrests for passengers riding in the back seats.  There is one touchscreen mounted directly above the glove compartment on the passenger side, and one found in the middle console provides easy access for the driver.
The screens offer a number of connected features including video on demand, in-car gaming, virtual music catalogs, webcam access, real-time information, enhanced GPS navigation and location based services, Kassis said.
He said the LTE connected car may be commercially available in the next few years as next generation wireless networks are deployed worldwide in the next few years.