TOKYO (Nikkei)--Several companies in the electronics industry have come out with car navigation systems that use the i-mode Internet platform of NTT DoCoMo Inc. to transmit and receive maps and other information.

All of the systems use a search engine operated by Pioneer Corp. affiliate Increment P Corp. for sending and receiving maps and related information. The monthly fee is 300 yen.

Users must input the address and zip code of their current location, as well as the name of a nearby railway station. A map of the user's immediate vicinity soon appears on the telephone display, and can be forwarded to a car navigation system via e-mail.

Alpine Electronics Inc. offers the DVD 077ZR system. Hooking it up to a mobile phone will provide a user with instant access to maps, information services on i-mode and the ability to send and receive e-mail. The price of the system is 155,000 yen, excluding a monitor.

Clarion Co. will debut a similar system in early July at 210,000 yen, also excluding a monitor.

Matsushita Communication Industrial Co. has released the CN-DV3020WD. Company officials claim it can respond to verbal queries with instant directions. Including a monitor, the system costs 272,000 yen.

(The Nihon Keizai Shimbun Tuesday morning edition)