Cellphones to Control Toy Cars

NEC has announced a technical cooperation with the Japanese toy manufacturer, Konami to enable cell phones to control its range of MICROiR toys cars. Owners of the tiny toy cars can download software into the move N504iS handset from DoCoMo and the J-N51 handset sold by J-Phone that will then enable the handsets to control the cars.

The control is by means of the infra-red transmitter in the cell phone handset.

Konami has license to manufacture their mini-cars in the Formula One colours of Ferrari, WilliamsF1 BMW, Toyota and Jordan.

This is not the first time a cell phone has been put to alternative use - it is already possible to download TV remote control software for some handsets, such as the Psiloc which works on the Nokia 7650 handset."

Posted to the site on 26th May 2003