A Telematics Applications project has demonstrated the first step towards a pan-European travel information service, offering travellers up-to-date, personalised travel and traffic information not just at the planning stage, but at any point on their journey.

Manufacturers have already combined the mobile phone and the personal data assistant (PDA) into a single unit capable of accessing the Internet on the move. At the same time, more and more information about timetables, weather and road conditions is available on-line over the Web. A union is inevitable.
The Promise project(1) demonstrated the power of such services, using a hand-held terminal, at test sites in six European countries. The benefits are clear - direct access to real-time traffic information will, for instance, enable drivers to avoid congested areas by choosing alternative routes. But wider advantages are anticipated. The ability of individuals to optimise their journeys is expected to improve the overall efficiency with which transport infrastructures are used - reducing traffic congestion and increasing use of public transport.
The prospect of substantial economic and environmental savings has encouraged six municipal authorities to participate, alongside some of Europe's industrial leaders in the fields of telecommunications, car manufacture and geographical information systems. Validation tests, followed by full demonstrations, have taken place in Finland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France and Germany.
Content providers - such as airlines, bus and train companies, road-users' associations and city authorities - make frequently updated information available to a value-added service provider. The service provider presents this data via a simple menu on the Promise homepage - and, as the service develops in the future, will be responsible for integrating it, and for adding interactive and multilingual functionality. Finally, a telecommunications company provides Internet access. Currently, Promise uses the GSM network, but will be able to make use of faster systems without modification, as these become available.
Early feedback from test users has been encouraging - they are ready and willing to pay for a faster and more accurate service. Commercial services are expected to be launched in the near future.

(1) PeRsOnal Mobile traveller and traffic Information SErvice - Telamatics Applications Programme project TR1043.