BMW owners can surf and drive

BMW is to introduce full on-board internet access to a range of its cars later this year.

The in-car internet service will let drivers copy maps and other information directly to their satellite navigation systems.

The German car manufacturer says that the service is the first of its kind to provide unrestricted internet access in an automobile.

Like some mobile internet services, it will operate via EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) mobile connection.

Drivers will be able to operate the internet on the BMW iDrive control system, surfing the web via a small joystick mouse.

However, while connection speeds might be good, for safety reasons drivers will only be able to access the web while the car is travelling at less than 3mph. In cars that have a rear DVD system, passengers in the back seats will be able to surf the net regardless of how fast the car is being driven.

Manfred Grunert, a spokesman for BMW, said: "Customers need web access in the office and they need it in their private lives, so we wanted to complete that with internet in the car."

Cars in Germany will be fitted with the iDrive internet service this summer and should be on the road this September, with the UK, other European countries and the US receiving it soon afterwards. BMW estimates that a mobile data tariff charge of around £8 a month will apply.

www.bmw.co.uk