TRAFFIC congestion information provider Trafficmaster is claiming a world first for fleets with the offer of live traffic information over the internet. The company has been supplying live traffic congestion for the past 10 years and is now aiming to dominate the market with trafficmaster-online.com - presenting detailed UK maps overlaid with traffic congestion information updated every four minutes.

Users of the new Trafficmaster system will pay a membership fee for different levels of content, but Trafficmaster is also pushing for business-to-business partnerships, including an offer for firms to create their own websites using Trafficmaster data, including manufacturers and other firms. Fleets, which suffer the most from congestion, will be a key market for the technology.

There will be several levels of membership, with full members allowed to set up favourite journeys and personalised reports as well as gaining access to new Trafficmaster WAP phone services. Registration enables time-capped access to the traffic maps and is free but access to more detailed services costs from 10p per day. Full membership of the site is £8.95 a quarter or £34.95 a year. The WAP service is available to members by bookmarking the site on their WAP phone.

The Trafficmaster sensor network now covers more than 8,000 miles of motorway and trunk roads in England, Scotland and Wales, with more than 7,500 sensors delivering live digital data to its control centre at Milton Keynes.

In January, Ford revealed that internet-ready vehicles would be offered as standard in the UK this year, while General Motors said it would make its cars internet-enabled. It is estimated that 50% of new cars will be internet enabled within five years.

• To access the TrafficMaster site click on the Buyers' guide menu button (left) and go to the Security, tracking and navigation section.