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Automotive giants Toyota and Ford are working with Livio on the formulation of a framework to implement Livio’s SmartDeviceLink (SDL) technology.

Toyota will also commercialise a telematics system based on SDL. Toyota and Ford have decided to keep the collaboration open to other automakers and app developers. SDL is an open source platform for smartphone apps and car connectivity that provides customers with in-vehicle use of apps via voice recognition function and operation panel.

Toyota Motor executive vice president, Shigeki Terashi, said: “Developing a safer and more secure in-car smartphone connectivity service which better matches individual vehicle features is exactly the value and advantage an automaker can offer customers. We expect that many companies share our view and will participate in the industry SDL collaboration.”

SDL facilitates use of apps that fits each company’s in-car system characteristics and interface, making it easy for end users. However, end users can also benefit from apps being made available across multiple automakers’ telematics systems and in a shorter development cycle. This would require industry-wide collaboration.

In August 2011, Toyota and Ford entered a collaboration agreement for next generation in-car telematics system standardisation. In June last year, Toyota entered into an agreement with Ford and Livio to explore SDL introduction to its vehicles.