Abstract: A vehicle email notification system and method in which triggers are used to initiate the generation and transmission of email messages that provide diverse types of dynamic vehicle information to the owner or other authorized subscriber. The email notifications are triggered by different events, some of which are independent of the vehicle (e.g., a 30 day trigger to provide the subscriber with a monthly vehicle status report), and others of which occur at the vehicle, such as a mileage or low oil life trigger. Upon occurrence of a trigger, the notification system builds and sends to the subscriber an email message that contains the dynamic vehicle information and identifies any detected vehicle condition for which action is needed.

Abstract: A method of presenting channels to the user of a multi-channel wireless media service is provided. A user input is received in a mobile unit, wherein the user input has an associated category. At least one channel of the multi-channel wireless media service responsive to the user input is determined based upon a relationship of the channel to the associated category. Access to the channel is provided to the user. Alternative methods as well as systems and programs for accomplishing the method are provided.

Abstract: A method for estimating vehicle damage comprising the steps of: sensing a vehicle incident; automatically sending vehicle incident data to a service center; using the incident data to automatically estimate a vehicle damage; and utilizing the estimated vehicle damage in a vehicle insurance decision process.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the invention is a communications system including a vehicle embedded cellular phone subsystem for receiving and sending communications and a wireless device subsystem including a base station and a wireless device. The base station is coupled to the vehicle embedded cellular phone subsystem for receiving incoming cellular communications at the wireless device and sending communications from the wireless device to the vehicle embedded cellular phone subsystem.

Abstract: A vehicle user can request emergency or roadside assistance from a response center by activating a button in the vehicle. The global positioning system is used to continuously store the vehicle location. A cellular telephone network is used to contact a response center and transfer a data string via modem containing information to assist the response center in acting on the request. If a first attempt to contact the response center at a phone number for receiving a data transfer is unsuccessful, a second call is made to a different number bypassing the data transfer and immediately placing the cellular phone into an unmuted condition. This allows the user to hear and interact with a cellular operator, if necessary, prior to being connected to the response center.