Ubiquitous and Convergence Revolution: A Future Vision Iam so delighted to be here with you, declaring the opening of the 2005 International Telematics Conference and Exhibition today. I want to express my gratitude for your keen interest and participation in the conference on telematics, one of the most important fields for national development and industrial activation. We can safely say the biggest topics of conversation in the IT industry today, which will govern the future world, are the ubiquitous and convergence revolutions. The ubiquitous life of the future, which will make it possible to connect networks freely at any place and time through the integration of information, communication and broadcasting, will be created in a space of new life combining Atom and Bit into one. Telematics is one of the representative services, which will provide people with a chance to directly experience such a marvelous future. Automobiles where modern people spend a lot of time will be changed into the so-called "third digital life space," which enables passengers to engage in various activities such as stock trading, financing, shopping and leisure through wire and wireless communication networks and super-speed Internet, from a simple transportation means. From the viewpoint of technology development, we can cite telematics as the crystal of development, which combines automobiles, networks and information computing. Accordingly, telematics combines characteristics of the industrialization era, the informatization era, and the ubiquitous era. Recognizing this importance of the telematics industry, the government has mapped out a macro strategy, called the IT 839, to strengthen competitiveness of the domestic IT industry and leap toward becoming a global leader in the IT industry. In line with the government's policy, ETRI is going all-out to develop core technologies and relevant industrial entities are striving to create a new service market. Korea is the world's No. 5 auto producer. It also boasts of the world's No. 1 super-speed Internet infrastructure and is equipped with perfect telematics implementation environment. -- Introducing the World to Korea's Advanced Telematics Technology Firstly, I give thanks for honorable guests' participation in the 2005 International Telematics Conference and Exhibition today. The brilliant development of advanced IT technology is now showing us a paradigm of new life under the name "ubiquitous." As an advance guard to realize such lifestyles in the future, telematics will bring about the third digital life space for us by linking home and office. The close convergence of automobiles, information, communication, broadcasting, services and contents is a core characteristic of telematics. As a leader in the future convergence industry, telematics has been developing into a key industry, opening the era of per capita national income of $20,000. The telematics service, which enables all people to enjoy various information benefits beyond limitations of time and space, will become a new revolution offering safety, pleasure and convenience to our lives. Under the recognition of the importance of the telematics industry, the government has been exerting best efforts to bolster competitiveness of the domestic IT industry through the IT 839 strategy. Now, the telematics market and industry will expand at a rapid pace through the combination of WiBro and DMB, and home network and USN service. Through this international event, I hope, Korea will introduce its high-level telematics technology and services to the world.