By December, the 2005's should be equipped with XM's new Navtraffic. It's supposed to seamlessly update the Navigation system with traffic updates, construction schedules, accidents, and traffic flow from fixed sensors... sounds pretty cool.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040407/dcw010_1.html

You'll have to pay $10/month for XM and another $10/month for Navtraffic and only available in 20 major markets.

(not certain on the pricing from XM...but...)

Yep... we release it to XM on 1 AUG... and then XM will release it to the 2005 Acura RL on 16 AUG ....I think....

Its very cool guys... this is the best project I have ever worked on... Just amazing.


....more markets to come.... soon... (on top of the 20 existing).

is this a software update that will work on all nav systems (2004 and later with XM) or is there additional hardware that is necessary?

When is the CTS rollout?

Reed
http://www.cadillacfaq.com

Reed,

I think its a minor OEM hardware change (some of the guts of the NAV).. but not 100% certain. But since its an option you have to order for the 05 CTS ... I think it is a hardware issue.

I am not sure of the live date for the CTS either at this point... when I hear more... I will let you know.

What does the Traffic button on the current navigation for?
At the moment, mine has never done anything noticeable... Is it for Navtraffic?

What does the Traffic button on the current navigation for?
At the moment, mine has never done anything noticeable... Is it for Navtraffic?I though it was supposed to search out stations that are tagged as providing traffic.

Thank question is on the faq:

http://www.cadillacfaq.com/faq/answers/trafbut.html

notice that it is intended for this xm traffice feature, but other than that nowadays, it does virtually nothing.

Reed
http://www.cadillacfaq.com

Seems to me I saw the XM Nav Traffic in the menu somewhere on my '05 V. :hmm:

let us know if its on your nav system and where?

Reed
http://www.cadillacfaq.com

Here is some more info on the system:

*note... they mention the STS to, but that is news to me...lol :hmm: I think they ment the CTS.. Also... the pricing in this piece sounds a heck of a lot closer than the EXTRA $10 a month as mentioned above*

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/zd/20040708/tc_zd/130607

Dashboard Traffic Feeds

Bill Howard - PC Magazine
One of technology's pipe dreams will become reality this fall: live traffic data streamed to your car, giving you the option to detour around accidents and traffic jams. It debuts in the new Acura RL and Cadillac STS flagship cars, using an XM Satellite Radio feed overlaid on the cars' navigation systems.

Here's how XM NavTraffic works: For 20 major U.S. cities, map data provider Navteq aggregates data from embedded roadway sensors, police reports of accidents, and construction reports. XM compresses and uploads the data to its two satellites and its urban terrestrial repeaters (antennas). The XM receiver separates the traffic data and sends it to car displays. A checkered flag marks your final destination. Orange and yellow icons represent traffic jams, accident locations, and more. Colored routes represent travel speeds: red for below 20 mph, green for above 40 mph, and so on (see the photo). Pricing is expected to be $3 to $5 a month in addition to a $10 monthly fee for music.
For XM and competitor Sirius, the challenge has been to add services that don't overwhelm each system's 4.5-Mbps bandwidth—already serving 100 channels of music and talk. "You want applications that lots of people need, where you can send everyone the same data," says Roderick MacKenzie, XM director of advanced applications.



Sirius and XM have also shown prototypes for satellite TV in cars. Meanwhile, keep your eyes on the road.

I have a 2005 CTS w/Nav. When will the service be available for the CTS? I can't wait to get it working.

They are advertising this (NavTraffic) on the new Acura TV ads. The GM verison will be several months behind the Acura launch due to marketing agreements (From what I understand).

Wow, that is cool. I like the xm traffic channels for the little amount of travel I do. I doubt I will sign up for this new feature. But I will be calling the dealer to find out if the car I currently have on order will have the updated NAV hardware that would support this.