Car Is Becoming A Mobile Accessory
The software technology is gradually entering the car and transforms it to a connected Internet device, setting up a new battle field for technology leaders.
Google, Apple and Microsoft, QNX, Nvidia and Qualcomm are fighting to be in control of the vehicle's software "brain" or "operating system" to deliver apps, navigation and other services.
During this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Canadian-based QNX Software Systems Limited, a subsidiary of BlackBerry Limited, unveiled a partnership with Qualcomm to support the chipmaker's new automotive platform. The companies will implement support for the high-performance video and graphics capabilities of Snapdragon Automotive Solutions in the QNX CAR Platform for Infotainment, a solution for building connected infotainment systems. The Snapdragon Automotive Solutions was demonstrated in the QNX reference vehicle, a specially modified Jeep Wrangler.
Snapdragon Automotive Solutions include the Qualcomm Snapdragon 602A applications processor with support for high-resolution, graphics and HMIs, facial, gesture and voice recognition, high-quality audio processing and image stitching, and multiple HD displays and cameras. Qualcomm Gobi 3G/4G LTE modems bring industry standard multimode cellular connectivity, and Qualcomm VIVE adds in-car Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. The enables the next generation of connected infotainment experiences from complex user applications to 3D navigation to rear-seat 3D gaming. In the QNX reference vehicle at CES, the Snapdragon Automotive Solutions powered a digital instrument cluster and a multimedia head unit based on the QNX CAR Platform for Infotainment; the head unit applications included 3D maps, natural speech recognition, geolocation, over-the-air (OTA) software updates, and cloud-based vehicle data analytics.
At the same time, Google and and NVIDIA unveiled a partnership with General Motors, Audi, Honda and Hyundai in a new partnership to bring the Android mobile system to vehicles in a new Open Automotive Alliance. The Open Automotive Alliance (OAA) plans to bring the Android platform to cars starting in 2014. OAA members "share a vision for the connected car, and bringing these open standards to the market will help extend people's mobile experience to another platform."
Microsoft has also a longstanding partnership with Ford, and Apple widely expected to expand its system for connecting the iPhone with automotive electronics systems.
The General Motors division Chevrolet said it would deploy 4G Internet connections on several models to help motorists who want to stay connected with their apps for automobiles.
Mazda also announced a partnership with the US software firm OpenCar to launch a new standards-based app system that allows the on-board screen to act as a browser and use a wide range of applications on the Internet.
During this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Canadian-based QNX Software Systems Limited, a subsidiary of BlackBerry Limited, unveiled a partnership with Qualcomm to support the chipmaker's new automotive platform. The companies will implement support for the high-performance video and graphics capabilities of Snapdragon Automotive Solutions in the QNX CAR Platform for Infotainment, a solution for building connected infotainment systems. The Snapdragon Automotive Solutions was demonstrated in the QNX reference vehicle, a specially modified Jeep Wrangler.
Snapdragon Automotive Solutions include the Qualcomm Snapdragon 602A applications processor with support for high-resolution, graphics and HMIs, facial, gesture and voice recognition, high-quality audio processing and image stitching, and multiple HD displays and cameras. Qualcomm Gobi 3G/4G LTE modems bring industry standard multimode cellular connectivity, and Qualcomm VIVE adds in-car Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. The enables the next generation of connected infotainment experiences from complex user applications to 3D navigation to rear-seat 3D gaming. In the QNX reference vehicle at CES, the Snapdragon Automotive Solutions powered a digital instrument cluster and a multimedia head unit based on the QNX CAR Platform for Infotainment; the head unit applications included 3D maps, natural speech recognition, geolocation, over-the-air (OTA) software updates, and cloud-based vehicle data analytics.
At the same time, Google and and NVIDIA unveiled a partnership with General Motors, Audi, Honda and Hyundai in a new partnership to bring the Android mobile system to vehicles in a new Open Automotive Alliance. The Open Automotive Alliance (OAA) plans to bring the Android platform to cars starting in 2014. OAA members "share a vision for the connected car, and bringing these open standards to the market will help extend people's mobile experience to another platform."
Microsoft has also a longstanding partnership with Ford, and Apple widely expected to expand its system for connecting the iPhone with automotive electronics systems.
The General Motors division Chevrolet said it would deploy 4G Internet connections on several models to help motorists who want to stay connected with their apps for automobiles.
Mazda also announced a partnership with the US software firm OpenCar to launch a new standards-based app system that allows the on-board screen to act as a browser and use a wide range of applications on the Internet.