Traffic management
In business, as in many endeavors, 90 percent of success is just showing up. Getting lost, or even just arriving late, never helps your cause. If you're traveling by car, to reliably show up on time, you need to know two things: how to get where you're going and how long it will take you.

For years, it's been easy to buy navigation systems that will direct you to your destination. And the products keep getting smaller and easier to use. At CES we saw the arrival of very small, portable navigation units, in particular the Garmin C330, which is about as simple as a GPS unit can be and easily portable. And from a user interface perspective, it beats the stuffing out of the Hertz Neverlost system that your rental car might (or might not) come with. The C330 illustrates that the trend started by the well-reviewed TomTom GO is picking up steam. Navigation systems are finally getting easy enough for anyone to use.

But navigation is only one part of the equation; the other is traffic. Even with the best directions in the world, a surprise traffic jam on the interstate may ruin your business lunch. Today, if you want to get traffic data on top of your navigation system, you'll need to buy a new car: So far, the Acura RL alone gets traffic data from XM radio satellites and can route you around accidents or jams. But soon you'll be able to get a traffic/navigation system in any car, courtesy of Pioneer, which is releasing the AVIC-N2 and AVIC-D1, both car stereos that have navigation capabilities in them (they differ in size and styling). Eventually, I believe every navigation system will receive traffic data, but if you want to jump ahead of your competition today, pick up the Pioneer. (And be prepared to pay for it. In addition to the unit itself, you must subscribe to the XM navigation service, at about $14 a month.)

The art of the no-handed deal
You really shouldn't have a serious conversation on your cell phone while you're driving. Why? Because I don't want you to get distracted and run into me. But if you must, please get a hands-free system so that at least you can keep your hands on the wheel.

I saw many hands-free kits at CES; my favorite was the Parrot CK3300. It works with Bluetooth phones, and it has some great features: It answers and hangs up your phone (so you can leave your phone in your briefcase or pocket), and it has its own large display and a knob that can scroll through your phone's address book. It also has voice recognition, so you can go truly hands-free.

The Parrot CK3300 includes a GPS receiver. It relays position data to your PDA, which, with the correct software, takes the place of a standalone GPS unit such as the ones I mentioned above. Since standalone navigation products can be hideously expensive (I don't know any good ones for less than $600), using your PDA for navigation is a good alternative. The CK3300 has to be professionally installed, so you can't unplug it and take it with you. For out-of-town Bluetooth use, get a headset or a plug-in Bluetooth speakerphone, such as Parrot's Blue Talk.

Very remote access
When I was hanging out with Wayne on his magic bus, I thought it was pretty cool that I could access the Internet via his satellite dish. But in order to do this, Wayne's bus has to be parked, and he has to let the dish unfold and lock onto a satellite, which can take a few minutes. Sorry, Wayne, but that's old school. Later this year, you'll be able to get a flat satellite antenna system that sits just a few inches higher than a roof rack on an SUV and that can put you on the Net from a moving car.

The RaySat receiver will cost $3,495 when it ships later this year. By letting you connect your Wi-Fi laptop to a satellite Internet connection, this dish puts you on the Internet from anywhere, even the middle of Montana where there's no cellular signal. If you need to be online absolutely everywhere, this is the gizmo for you. Like satellite phones, though, the expense and bulk will make the RaySat a luxury item, and the continuing rollout of cellular data products will make it unnecessary for people who work primarily in metro areas.

Protect your assets
Problem: Once you have all this gear in your car, you might find yourself cowering in your garage. Who wants to leave a tricked-out mobile office on the street unprotected? While no security system can actually prevent somebody from smashing your windows or hoisting your rig onto a flatbed, there are security systems that will at least let you monitor what's going on in and around your car. In particular, the new Clifford AvantGuard 5.5x is a two-way remote with an incredible one-mile range. It tells you if somebody tampers with, breaks into, or tows your car, perhaps alleviating anxiety you may have about your newly tricked-out rig.

And since the AvantGuard is two-way, you can use it to turn on the engine from far away--useful if you want to warm up or cool down the car before you get in. Sadly, it won't feed the parking meter for you.

Buy or build
Many of the latest car technologies, navigation and Bluetooth functions in particular, are now being built into high-end cars. A new car will give you a cleaner, nicely integrated system--and you can put the gear on your car payments, which makes its high price appear more affordable. But if your current car isn't fully depreciated yet and you have to keep it for a few more years, you can get just about all the high-end functions through aftermarket technology, often for less money. And some of the latest technologies, such as two-way satellite Internet, will appear first as add-ons. I'm eager to get some of this gear into my own car.

What do you think of technology that can turn your car into a rolling office? Sound off in TalkBack!