BANGKOK (Reuters) - Security guards smashed their way into an official limousine with sledgehammers on Monday to rescue Thailand's finance minister after his car's computer failed.
Ý Suchart Jaovisidha and his driver were trapped inside the BMW for more than 10 minutes before guards broke a window. All doors and windows had locked automatically when the computer crashed, and the air-conditioning stopped, officials said. 'We could hardly breathe for over 10 minutes,' Suchart told reporters. 'It took my guard a long time to realize that we really wanted the window smashed so that we could crawl out. It was a harrowing experience.' *********************************************************** Microsoft Technology Hits the Road in BMW 7 Series Microsoft Navigates the Automotive Industry, Enhances the Driver Experience Microsoft technology powers the navigation feature used in BMW's innovative new iDrive telematics system. (Click for high-resolution image) REDMOND, Wash. -- March 4, 2002 -- Microsoft Corp. today announced that the BMW 7 Series, the line of cars introduced last month in the United States, features Microsoftís robust, real-time embedded operating system, Windows® CE. This announcement comes shortly after Microsoftís Automotive Business Unit launched Windows CE for Automotive v3.5, the newest version of its telematics software platform based on Windows CE, and announced an end-to-end solution to enable the auto industry to cost-effectively implement and maintain advanced automotive telematics. Siemens VDO Automotive AG, the preferred navigation supplier of BMW, is using the Microsoft® Windows CE operating system in the Control Display, which is part of the innovative BMW iDrive concept. Microsoftís technology is available to BMW motorists worldwide, delivering an advanced in-car computing experience. "When we heard about BMWís telematics vision, we knew the exceptional quality in Microsoft technology would fit hand-in-hand," said Bob McKenzie, general manager of Microsoftís Automotive Business Unit. "The iDrive concept is a unique one, and weíre proud to power the graphical user interface in the Control Display." The iDrive concept and the Control Display enable easy operation of, and convenient access to, the myriad of features at the driverís disposal, including the navigation, telephone, climate control and entertainment systems. This presents a bold new concept for interaction between the driver and automobile. The BMW 7 Series was launched in Germany in fall 2001. It is now available in North America and will be available in other markets this spring. This is the first of several related announcements to come from Microsoftís Automotive Business Unit.
