Peripheral access devices and sensors for use with vehicle telematics devices and systems

A telematics system comprising:

• a telematics device comprising
• a controller,
• a diagnostic system, communicating with the controller, configured to receive diagnostic information from a host vehicle,
• a position-locating system, communicating with the controller, configured to determine location information of the host vehicle,
• a wireless transceiver, communicating with the controller, configured to transmit and receive information through a wireless network to and from at least one Internet-accessible website,
• at least one communication interface operatively associated with the controller, the communication interface including at least a short range wireless interface, and
• the telematics device being configured to communicate with at least one access device other than the diagnostic system and the position-locating system of the telematics device, wherein the communication interface is configured to universally interface with a plurality of access devices.