Cellphones can disable car keys: Nissan

Nissan North America has a warning for customers: placing your electronic key too close to your cellphone could leave you stranded.

The automaker is asking customers driving new models of two of its flagship sedans to keep their car keys and cellphones at least an inch apart to avoid disabling the "intelligent keys."

Cellphones kept near Nissan's I-Keys -- wireless devices designed to allow drivers to enter and start their cars at the push of a button -- can erase the electronic code on the keys, rendering them unable to unlock or start the cars.

The problem has occurred on the 2007 Nissan Altima and Infiniti G35 sedans -- two of their top-selling models.

"The company discovered that if the I-Key touches a cellphone, outgoing or incoming calls have the potential to alter the electronic code inside the I-Key". The car won't start and the I-Key cannot be reprogrammed.

The problem has occurred in a "very small percentage" of cars sold. A new version of the I-Key would be available in the fall.

The current owners have been notified of the potential glitch via mail and can get new keys from dealers if they encounter the problem.

Watch TV on mobiles with Doordarshan

Even as the telecom industry is debating with the government for spectrum allocation for launch of 3G or triple play services, State-owned television broadcaster Doordarshan has launched mobile TV on the DVB-H platform.


“DVB-H is a technology that allows simultaneous transmission of multiple channels of television, radio and data to a range of multimedia devices including mobile phones, PDA’s, PC’s and other handheld devices. It is a new concept which is going to change the face of television,”

DVB-H offered a number of advantages, which include better reception quality, increased channel carrying capacity, new features such as program guides to facilitate navigation, multi-view and interactive services. “DVB-H brings with it the capability to continually enhance services provided to subscribers, both from a video perspective and from new applications".

DVB works on the IP platform, similar to GSM technology. The signals are transmitted via towers like the GSM telephony, and handsets have to be developed for better transmission for a larger area,

DVB forum is working on a next level of technology for satellite television channels – DVB-SH, which is due to be released later this year and the commercial launch will be in 2009-2010. The satellite technology is being given major thrust as the DVB-H is limited to terrestrial television channels and satellite signals can reach even the remotest parts of the country”