Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to drive connected car market to $600m by 2020

(c)iStock.com/Aslan Alphan

A new Juniper Research study argues the use of connected car entertainment, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, will help push the market to $600 million (£420.5m) by 2020.

The report, entitled “Consumer Connected Cars: Telematics, Insurance & In-Vehicle Applications 2015-2020”, argues that following this, a range of new applications will come into being in the area of in-vehicle utilisation such as advanced traffic solutions, route optimisation, and...

By Connected CarTech, 26 January 2016, 1 comment. Categories: Infotainment.

Argus Cyber Security collaborates with Check Point to secure connected cars from hacking

(c)iStock.com/dolgachov

Automotive cyber security provider Argus Cyber Security has announced a collaboration deal with pure play security vendor Check Point Software Technologies in order to deal with the threat of car hacking.

Car-hacking is a major threat for connected cars though the success of such attacks hinges upon the security implementations at each car manufacturer and its Tier-1 supplier. The partnership between Argus and Check Point will see the integration of Argus' Intrusion Detection and...

By Connected CarTech, 25 January 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Security.

Laird acquires Novero to protect the connected car

(c)iStock.com/laflor

Global technology company Laird has completed its acquisition of German connected car solutions developer Novero.

The acquisition was first announced on 18 December 2015 and recently achieved regulatory approval. Now complete, this acquisition makes Laird a leading end-to-end car connectivity solutions provider. It also fuels Laird's growth in the enterprise IoT market.

Automakers are increasingly viewing connected cars as a necessity with the number of connected cars on the road to rise...

By Connected CarTech, 22 January 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Mergers and acquisitions, Security.

Toyota showcases Mirai-based research vehicle equipped with satellite comms tech

(c)iStock.com/dogayusufdokdok

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...

By Connected CarTech, 19 January 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity, Navigation.

RAC aims to assuage fears over telematics privacy

(c)iStock.com/xijian

Two in five companies polled by automotive services provider RAC say their staff has concerns over perceived privacy issues associated with telematics and 24/7 car tracking systems.

As a result, one in five organisations which run business vehicles say they have not installed telematics software for that reason, while more than half of those polled (52%) say their telematics system does not have the option to be switched off.

In response to these concerns, and in order to facilitate...

By Connected CarTech, 18 January 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Bluetooth, Privacy, Telematics .

Autodata launches range of APIs for developers

(c)iStock.com/baona

Autodata, a supplier of technical information to the automotive automarket, has launched a new range of APIs in order to offer more opportunities to developers in the B2B and consumer automotive markets.

Autodata chief technology officer, Neil Brooks, said: “Over the past year we have managed to establish a seamless process that has allowed us to pass APIs through the alpha and beta stages to launch extremely efficiently and we are delighted to now be in a position where the vast...

By Connected CarTech, 15 January 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Apps, Standards.

HARMAN aims to simplify vehicle integration with latest launch

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...

By Connected CarTech, 14 January 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity, Infotainment, Navigation.

Ford looks to foster interaction between cars and wearables in new lab

(c)iStock.com/VanderWolf-Images

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...

By Connected CarTech, 12 January 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity, Devices.

AT&T extends connected car agreement with BMW

(c)iStock.com/RiverNorthPhotography

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...

By Connected CarTech, 07 January 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Connectivity, Contextual data, Data & Analytics.

Toyota and Ford to deploy new telematics system

(c)iStock.com/dogayusufdokdok

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...

By Connected CarTech, 06 January 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Telematics .

Vinli aims to link the connected home with the connected car

(c)iStock.com/Maxiphoto

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...

By Connected CarTech, 04 January 2016, 0 comments. Categories: Apps, Connectivity, Contextual data, Data & Analytics.

Ford sees record numbers of patents in 2015

Picture credit: Ford

Ford has announced the company’s employees have achieved a record number of new patents, including inventions related to mobility, autonomous and connected vehicles, ride-sharing and navigation platforms, eBikes, and wearable devices.

The American automaker increased its electrification patent filing numbers by nearly 200% in the past five years. It has 275 patents on EcoBoost gasoline turbocharged direct-injection and another 200 pending. The company's employees submitted nearly...

By Connected CarTech, 23 December 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Ecosystems.

DOT to become friendlier towards self-driving cars

(Image Credit: iStockPhoto/narvikk)

The UK Department of Transportation (DOT) is planning to update its position toward self-driving cars in the coming weeks as tech companies and automakers work on turning them into reality.

The agency is also working on making it mandatory for all new cars to come with vehicle-to-vehicle communication technologies.

Anthony Foxx, Transportation Secretary, said: "I expect the changes to...

By Connected CarTech, 08 December 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Driverless, Navigation.

Juniper Research predicts consumers to drive fully autonomous vehicles by 2021

(c)iStock.com/chombosan

A Juniper Research report projects that 20 million fully autonomous or self-driving vehicles will be on roads worldwide by 2025, with North America and Europe slated to lead adoption and consumers to start using such vehicles by 2021.

In the run up to adoption of autonomous vehicles, ADAS (Advanced Driving Assistance System) technologies such as adaptive cruise control and automated braking will gain significance, the researchers argue. The report holds that these technologies will...

By Connected CarTech, 01 December 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Driverless.

Why integration between native infotainment and apps could lead to frustration

(c)iStock.com/ra3m

The existence of infotainment sources such as traditional radio alongside standalone systems such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay has the potential to frustrate consumers, according to a report by Strategy Analytics.

Though apps such as iHeartRadio and TuneIn could replace traditional radio, consumer awareness and usage of these apps has not yet reached a point where they can be considered worthy alternatives, according to the researchers.

The study tested out the Android Auto software...

By Connected CarTech, 30 November 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Apps, Infotainment.

Microsoft and Volvo come together for next generation automotive technologies

(c)iStock.com/tbradford

Microsoft will collaborate with Volvo Cars on the development of automotive technologies in a variety of areas.

The companies demonstrated the use of Microsoft HoloLens to improve the auto customer experience. The HoloLens technology has the potential to open new sales channels by allowing dealers to provide prospective customers with a car configurator on the road or at shopping malls.

Volvo Cars senior vice president of marketing sales and service Björn Annwall, said:...

By Connected CarTech, 27 November 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Artificial Intelligence, Microsoft.

Telematics change driver habits, says study

(c)iStock.com/jpgfactory

A new study from the Insurance Research Council (IRC) has revealed 56% of surveyed drivers say they have made changes in their driving habits since installing a device provided by their insurer.

38% said that they did not make changes to their driving habits. The survey found that drivers over the age of 65 years were less likely to make changes than younger drivers.

Among the survey respondents with telematics devices from their auto insurers, 82% said that they received information...

By Connected CarTech, 25 November 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Telematics .

ETSI to explore adopting MirrorLink as technical specification

(c)iStock.com/laflor

The Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) has announced a cooperation agreement to formally explore MirrorLink, created by the Consortium, as an official ETSI Technical Specification.

ETSI's standards underline much of the most widely used and popular technologies in the world, including electronic signatures, smart cards, DECT and GSM. It has brought together car industry stakeholders to form its intelligent transport systems...

By Connected CarTech, 24 November 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Ecosystems, Mirrorlink.

TeliaSonera develops connected car solution for Nordic and Baltic countries

(c)iStock.com/KristianSeptimusKrogh

In order to make the best of the IoT solutions market, TeliaSonera has developed a connected car solution, known as Telia Sense, targeting the Nordic and Baltic countries.

The cloud-based solution can be used on new as well as old vehicles and comprises three parts – a monthly subscription, an app for smartphones and a vehicle telematics unit equipped with a SIM-card that connects to the OBD2-port.

TeliaSonera will first launch the solution in Sweden in 2016, with...

By Connected CarTech, 20 November 2015, 0 comments. Categories: Cloud, Ecosystems, Insurance.