Clear Channel and Inrix announced they have extended their partnership to provide real-time traffic speed data.
Clear Channel's Total Traffic Network's real-time data currently covers 49 major metropolitan areas across the United States. Customers using the network include Garmin, Nextel, Verizon, TomTom, and Rand McNally. BMW currently uses Clear Channel as part of its navigation system (pictured).
The new partnership between Clear Channel and Inrix will expand the real time speed coverage by using Inrix's Smart Dust Network which combines speed and flow information from traditional road sensors, toll tags, and more than 625,000 commercial fleet vehicles, delivery vehicles and taxis across the country. Total Traffic Network will now have real time flow information from Inrix in 92 metropolitan markets.
Our take? We foresee real-time traffic news to increasingly becoming a part of future auto's options especially in highly congested areas such as Los Angeles and Atlanta.