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Alpine Electronics and Nokia to integrate smartphones into cars
Published by Rafe Blandford at 12:52 UTC, March 3rd 2010
Alpine Electronics today announced a strategic partnership with Nokia and Navteq to bring a new car integration technology called 'Terminal mode' to car 'infotainment' systems. It integrates Nokia smartphones with in-car systems allowing, not only the usual call functions, but also the use of smartphone-based services (e.g. Ovi Maps navigation) and content (e.g. music) via the high resolution screens and audio systems embedded in the car. The integration also offers the opportunity for automotive-specific widgets on the phone, including fuel levels and engine status.
Alpine Electronics say:
"By integrating the smartphone handset seamlessly with in-car electronics, this technology is able to bring smartphone widget-based services like navigation, music, weather reports and application stores, in addition to the usual call and talk functions of a mobile phone into the car environment. Once connected, and with appropriate safety measures in place, users are able to ergonomically and safely use services and applications through the high resolution screens and audio systems embedded in the car."
It makes sense to combine the smartphone with a car appliance as it avoids unnecessary duplication and allows you to get your familiar services and content via an improved, car-centric user interface and experience.
Alpine Electronics say the integration will allow them to combine information from smartphones with the car "to create unique user experiences". For example, a combination of location (GPS from the phone), together with fuel levels and engine status (from the car) might be combined to create a service which shows, when needed, the petrol station with the lowest fuel prices. The connection between car and phone would be made via Blueooth or USB cable.
Alpine Electronics, a subsidiary of Alps Electric Co., is best known for its aftermarket car audio and entertainment systems. However, it also has a significant OEM business; mainly to premium car brands - including BMW, Volvo, Land Rover, Aston Martin, Mercedez Benz and Jaguar.
More information is available in the Alpine press release.
Also from the press release:
"The infotainment system of a modern car is a natural extension for the capabilities of smartphones. Not only will it simplify the use of turn-by-turn voice guidance from Ovi Maps, but also provide a new and easy way of accessing other content on the smartphone, such as music, and delivering automotive specific widgets from the Ovi Store," said Vishal Chatrath, Head of Product Development for Nokia Automotive.
"This collaboration offers Alpine Electronics the opportunity for further innovation using our Mobile Media Solutions in the automotive industry. We look forward to leveraging our past experience and leadership in bringing smartphone connectivity to the vehicle environment to meet thefuture needs of our automotive partners," said Toru Usami, Executive Managing Director, Alpine Electronics.
News Discussion
Can an Industry analyst explain this further. Thx
Nokia will create an app similar to Nokia Sport Tracker, lets say Nokia Car Tracker LOL
This app automatically shown on Alpine LCD display once you entered your car
It will track full car analysis:
- Fuel Consumption
- Car speed
- Odometer read
- Engine RPM
- Time elapsed
- Car Location
- Tracking
- Road Condition (using built in accelerometer to detect bumps and heavily paved road)
- etc etc
Those data will be collected and uploaded to your nokia account and combine them with OVI maps
The benefits is :
- Data collection for car maintenance such as oil change, and others car maintenance thingy
- You will get all data about road condition, not only traffic info, but also mapping of road which have specific condition such as bumps, curves.
"But does it have ovi maps?"
And yes its fairly typical to see more than one way to the solution. MeeGo would like to be used in cars (and indeed still could be and still have this integration)... but to be honest in the short term integration with automotive infortainment systems is possibly a more likely goal... and because of the numbers Symbian is going to be your first port of call.
I'll see if I can track down some additional information.
I personally think that is very likely that Maemo/Meego devices will be supported as soon as this launches - after all Nokia is using its Linux platform for prestige products and that is certainly where Alps/Alpine target their technology too.
I expect this to be something like in an car docking station for [Nokia] smartphones. So the in-car audio system can be used for hands-free calls & music playing software in the phone. The phone could use an existing in-car display for the Alps audio system to show navigation and traffic & weather bulletin information.
I would like to see this in action, but meanwhile I found these concept pictures from the Geneva Motor Show:
http://noknok.tv/2010/03/05/nokia-te...-infotainment/
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