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Japanese automotive manufacturer Mazda has become a gold member of the Linux Foundation, paving the way for further progress in the connected car space.

The automaker is set to play a role in the growing open source software stack for the connected car, thereby enhancing the relationship between vehicles and people through the development of its new-generation car connectivity system. The automaker also recently became a member of Automotive Grade Linux, a Linux Foundation...

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The race to bring driverless cars to our roads is in full swing. The automotive and technology industries are vying to be the first to market, while Google will tell you that it has driverless cars and that this technology is already possible. This may be the case on a smaller scale for cars that are connected on a Google metro, but this cannot yet be reflected on a mainstream level.

To make the driverless car a reality for the mass market, we need to understand how sensors, compute, and...

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Automotive security experts Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) argue that three in four cars shipped in 2020 will come with integrated connectivity.

G&D anticipates registrations of vehicles in 2020 to total 92 million, of which close to 69 million (75%) will carry integrated connectivity. Scotiabank argues that close to 70 million passenger cars were registered in 2014, of which 10% were equipped with connectivity. By 2020, 1.1 billion vehicles are expected to be on the road, of...

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Automotive giant Toyota is planning to install a data communication module into many of its vehicles.

The company is also weighing the use of satellite communications, including high capacity satellites that provide higher data transfer rates than traditional satellite technologies. Conventional satellites need a “dish” antenna on the ground.

As a result, Toyota showcased a research vehicle based on the Mirai fuel cell vehicle that featured satellite communications...

Picture credit: HARMAN

HARMAN has launched what it calls the Life Enhancing Intelligent Vehicle Solution (LIVS), with a view to bringing together separate connectvitiy and operational functions under a new automotive computing platform.

LIVS is an end-to-end system that offers adaptable and personal solutions in the car. The company will showcase the technology on the latest Rinspeed concept car, called Etos.

LIVS has the potential to transform the driving experience, HARMAN claims, and the Etos features...

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Automotive giant Ford is launching the Automotive Wearables Experience laboratory in Michigan aiming to assess the potential of wearables and connected car technologies.

Gary Strumolo, global manager for vehicle design and infotronics, Ford Research and Advanced Engineering, said: “As more consumers embrace smart watches, glasses and fitness bands, we hope to develop future applications that work with those devices to enhance in-car functionality and driver...

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AT&T has announced an extension to its exclusive connected car agreement with BMW. The agreement, in place since 2008, has seen AT&T back BMW's ConnectedDrive services and apps. However, the scope of the new agreement will now also include “infotainment” features such as a Wi-Fi hot spot.

The new agreement will see customers, of the all-new BMW 7 Series, being presented with an alternative of a Wi-Fi hot spot running on AT&T's 4G LTE network. A...

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Connected car software provider Vinli has announced Vinli Home Connect, which aims to integrate connected home platforms with the connected car.

Regular readers of this publication will recognise Vinli after the startup smashed its Indiegogo campaign efforts for making dumb cars smarter through a $99 device back in June. The Vinli on-board platform and device can be used...

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The past year has seen significant and interesting progress in the sphere of car connectivity, which is becoming increasingly complex and more commonplace. This is being driven, in-part by consumer expectation for access to the internet wherever they are, and by the introduction of new regulations which is governing the implementation of technology, as the clever use of the web breaks down further barriers to communication.

During recent months, the march of Apple and their...

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The introduction of Automotive Ethernet would significantly reduce vehicle weight, and better manage the complex transfer of data within connected vehicles according to Ninad Deshpande, a specialist in Open Technologies at B&R Industrial Automation.

In a speech during the Automotive Megatrends conference in India, Deshpande said the introduction of Ethernet in the automobile...

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Sometimes it’s useful to keep track of where our vehicle is, like when it’s lost in a car park, but on most occasions we just want that information to be available to us alone. Yet a cybersecurity expert has warned that your connected car is not as secure as you would expect, and could reveal your location unless core technology is tweaked.

Dr Jonathan Petit, principal scientist at Security Innovation and researcher at the University of Twente, made the warning after an...

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The number of Chinese passenger vehicles with telematics capabilities rose 32.1% year-on-year to 1.8 million units in January-September 2015, according to a new report by Research In China.

The report found that 4G LTE technologies and smartphone integration has found wider applications among Chinese passenger vehicles. Manufacturers are also enriching in-vehicle infotainment and networking features for a better user experience.

OnStar dominates the Chinese passenger vehicle...

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A report from Transparency Market Research argues that the global connected car market will benefit from new avenues with advancements in network technology – however, the key drivers for growth will be consumer demand for connectivity and safety mandates put in place by governments across the globe.

As a result, the report projects that the value of the global connected car market will reach $131.9 billion (GBP 85.4 billion) by 2019. Hindrances to growth will the presence of...

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A new AT&T Drive Studio and Ericsson study has found that 78% of car buyers worldwide would postpone a purchase by a year in order to benefit from connected car services offered by their preferred brand.

At present, there exists an increase in awareness among consumers across the globe concerning connected car features and their importance in the driving experience. Among US consumers, the Wi-Fi hotspot was the foremost connected car feature in demand.

The study examined purchase...

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V2X technology company Cohda Wireless has developed V2X-Radar, a cost-effective, 360-degree radar to complement V2X connected car systems.

Targeting early adopters and a market that is currently witnessing a low penetration rate, the radar features a 360-degree sensor capable of perceiving buildings, road signs and legacy vehicles.

Key to autonomous vehicles, the radar’s functionality is not challenged by rain, snow and fog. The product ensures visibility around corners and...

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Safety is a big concern with vehicles, whether automated or not. Car manufacturer Ford has developed a V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) communications system which can warn other drivers of upcoming hazards and road blockages in real-time to help keep journeys safe, fast, and stress-free for everyone. 

Built in collaboration with St Petersburg State Polytechnic University, the...

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A note from Juniper Research argues that wireless charging will be offered in 50 million cars by 2020, up from just 4 million in 2014.

The study, titled 'Wireless Charging: Opportunities, Applications & Standards 2015-2020', also found that over a third of smartphones in 2020 will have inbuilt wireless charging and even more will have wireless charging enabled through accessories. Laptop makers are also looking to utilise the technology. By 2020, nearly 20% of laptops being used...

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AT&T and ZTE USA have announced the launch of a new plug-in Wi-Fi hotspot for vehicles called ZTE Mobley.

The new hotspot will be available online and in-store at AT&T from September 11. It allows up to five devices to access the internet on an AT&T LTE network plan. The device can be plugged into the on-board diagnostics II port of a vehicle, which is available in most vehicles made from 1996.

The device features a Qualcomm MDM9215 processor and connects to...

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Verizon Telematics has announced the commercial availability of Hum, which promises to be a “smart, connected driving experience for more than 150 million vehicles.”

Hum’s staying power, like a lot of software this publication has assessed in recent weeks, is that it can be connected to practically any car. It can be installed through an onboard diagnostic reader (OBD), with a Bluetooth-enabled device on the visor, which updates drivers with real-time data...

Picture credit: HERE

Location and navigation technology provider HERE has convened a forum aimed to foster greater industry collaboration in vehicle sensor data transmission, with the contingent arguing a universal standard needs to be agreed upon.

The forum, involving 16 companies ranging from automotive manufacturers to system vendors, examined a variety of issues from security to data content.

HERE, a Nokia subsidiary, argues the need for an industry standard where vehicle sensor data is ‘ingested by a location...