ATX is BMW's OnStar and here's a news release of their plans to expand the use of telematics. Hence, more bells and whistles for BMW's to come:

ATX Expands Use of Telematics for Remote Vehicle Activation

Press Release, October 4, 2005

ATX Group, the world's second largest telematics provider to the
automotive industry in North America and Western Europe, announced the
development of several new telematics and interactive voice recognition
applications involving the remote activation of vehicle functions.

Among the new applications is the capability to use a personal computer
or wireless phone to remotely activate the car via voice commands to
make the vehicle's interior more comfortable before the driver gets into
the vehicle and to roll the vehicle's windows either down or up.

"These are simple solutions designed to address simple needs that are
easy to understand," said Ron West, ATX Executive Vice President of
Sales and Marketing. "Imagine being able to roll up your car windows
when it begins to rain without leaving your desk or rolling out of bed,
or honking your horn to locate your car when you forget where you parked
your car at the shopping mall."

ATX already allows its telematics subscribers to use their wireless
devices to remotely unlock their car doors, a particularly valuable
feature when keys have been inadvertently left in the vehicle.

"This is an application in which consumers place high value because of
the added convenience and one that we can provide as part of any
standard telematics package at a very low cost," said West. "We are
taking a capability that already exists with limitations in the
aftermarket and integrating it as an embedded function on
telematics-equipped vehicles with an interactive voice recognition
interface."

Remote vehicle activation also gives automobile dealerships a quick and
easy showroom demonstration of telematics' tangible benefits to
prospective buyers. Additional applications under research or
development include a remote stop function, such as preventing the car's
ignition from being started or allowing the car to be operated only
during specific hours - functions that could be useful in preventing
teenagers or parking valets from taking one's car on a joyride.

"Basically this all about giving vehicle owners more control over one of
their most critical, personal assets," said West. [View press release
]