Until recently, cars have remained entirely unconnected.  Off-the-grid as far as talking to other devices. On-Star changed that by building a cell-phone into the car and ever since it’s been a mad dash to add functionality that will take advantage of the cars new ability to talk to the outside world.

But with great power comes great responsibility…

The more connectivity and integration is built into any device (a car for our purposes) the more ways there are to access that device.  This is a natural evolution of technology.  Unfortunately those ways to access device also mean more ways for those with less than positive intentions to gain access as well.

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, and the University of Washington are researching vulnerabilities in electronic vehicle controls, trying to warn automakers about potential security holes. Many new cars have Bluetooth wireless technology and built-in connections for cell phones and other devices, and those connections could be exploited. In one example, the researchers called the car’s cellular connection and uploaded malicious code using an audio file. In another test, they found out how to pair the car to a Bluetooth-enabled device, which they used to execute code.

Hacking vehicle systems started as soon as computers were introduced to vehicles (and before that if you might consider removing your headers ‘hacking’ your exhaust system), but this has already required physical access to the car.  With the addition of wireless connectivity the aforementioned researchers have proven that barrier no longer exists.  The article goes on to speak of some of the challenges faced in attempting this type of hack, but there is absolutely no question this will get easier as time goes on…not harder.  Automotive companies will always try to close security holes, but no system can be completely locked down and still remain flexible enough to talk to other systems.  As additional technologies are introduced to bring smart phone connectivity into the vehicle the frequency of these hacks will increase greatly.  Just about every smartphone on the market can already be hacked to do things its not meant to do and the car wont be any exception.

Personally, I’m not terribly worried about it.  I’ve dealt with technology all my life and done a fair bit of the hacking myself…and, frankly, I’m looking forward to being able to hack my next car to do what I want. It is inevitable that people will try to take control of their devices at the lowest level and they will succeed.  Most will use this power for good and increase the mileage of their Prius or custom build an app for their phone to talk to their car, but someone, somewhere will create a ‘virus’ for the car.  In the PC world viruses are easy to catch and difficult to get rid of, but most don’t bring your system to a crashing halt.  Most are meant to steal information or processing power, not prevent users from completely using there computers.  In automotive I would expect the same to hold true.  Malicious code wont usually be made to send thousands of cars careening into each other.  Instead it will steal personal information, flash messages on the screens, and otherwise invade your life while still allowing the car to operate safely.

On the other hand, there are those PC viruses that format your hard drive for no good reason other than the creator wanted cause destruction.  This is possible in the automotive world as well, but no doubt that particular hacker would be aggressively pursued…much more so than someone crashing home computers.

By no means am I saying the sky is falling, but I do expect this type of intrusion into vehicle systems to increase over time.  Just like Apple computers never had viruses until they become ubiquitous (essentially) and the same will hold true in vehicles.  As the number of these systems increase, and in turn the number of people that can be reached with a particular virus increases, the automotive industry will have to deal with the same problems that PCs and smartphones have.

via [PopSci]

Related posts:

1. Hacker Uses Telematics System for Revenge
2. Smartphones and Embedded Systems
3. Application Spotlight: AppSpace.com

“There’s a lot of technology out there now that can disable phones and we’re looking at that,” Raymond LaHood, the Secretary of Transportation said during a discussion during MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”

This will never happen. Ever.  There are to many legitimate reasons to use a phone in car (e.g. 911, passengers making calls, etc) and to few benefits to blocking it…not to mention the FCC wouldn’t approve it.  I don’t seen a need to spend a long time discussing this issue.  It’s just not going to happen.  Not even if there was a catastrophic distraction related accident to use as a rallying cry.

To be fair, LaHood went on to say, “That’s one way. But you have to have good laws, you have to have good enforcement, and you have to have people take personal responsibility. That’s the bottom line.”  Which is far more reasonable an approach.  The interview coincides with the Department of Transportations new, “Faces of Distraction” campaign which will no doubt seek to demonstrate the dangers of distracted driving (i.e. scare people).

I’m not sure what the impact of federal laws would be as the states seem to be doing a pretty good job of creating the restrictions themselves.  Handset use restrictions are becoming standard and seem to have a positive impact on the issue of distraction.  Texting bans are also being rolled out across the country, but the effectiveness is not the same.  The difference between the two is that it’s fairly obvious when someone is holding their phone to their ear.  It’s easy to enforce.  On the other hand, a texting ban is basically impossible to enforce.  Not only can users just keep the phone low (where law enforcement wont see it), but it’s not illegal to use your navigation system or radio while you drive and as more and more drivers use their phones for directions and music it is impossible to tell the difference legal and illegal uses.

The remaining option is apps that will limit the functionality of the phone while in motion, but this also wont work because enforcement is essentially impossible.  The applications are opt-in, essentially requiring a driver to choose to restrict their own access.  In the end, that means the person is willing to not use their phone while driving, but doesn’t have the will power to self enforce.  It’s a small percentage of people that will fall into this group.  I can see an opportunity in the corporate or fleet environment where the use of the application can be required and enforced.

MSNBC also spoke with Paul Atchley, a scientist at the University of Kansas who studies distracted driving.

The real answer to the problem is a change in people’s attitudes. The research on drunk driving and distracted driving is quite similar, but the reactions of people to both are far different.

“When we ask young drivers about drunk driving, they say that judges should throw the book at drunk drivers, but not the person texting while driving,” said Atchley.

“The bottom line is that people want to use these devices,” said Atchley. “And things are going to get worse before they get better.”

Related posts:

1. Transportation Secretary ‘LaHood fears spread of in-car technology’
2. Texting Bans, Can They Work?
3. App Spotlight: SafeCellApp – Get Paid to NOT Use Your Phone While Driving

SafeCellApp (not to be mistaken with the ‘radiation blocking’ SafeCell) has taken an interesting approach to smartphone app usage and distracted driving.  Instead of blocking features, the SafeCellApp will pay you $1 per 100 miles (it’s really 1 point per mile and 100 points per $1 aka $.01 / mile) you drive without violating texting or cell phone use bans.  By using your location to check the local laws the app can decide whether that call you just made was legal or not (for example by detecting whether or not you used a hands free device).  Users will be awarded points for positive behavior and will lose points for negative behavior (no word on if you’ll have to pay the SafeCell if / when you end up with negative points).

At $11.99 that’s 1,200 miles of distraction free driving just to make your money back.  Earnings can be redeemed via eCards and gift cards which is great and it seems like there are lots of Rewards Partners.  I drive about a 100 miles a day so I’d be curious to try this out, but I don’t have an iPhone or Android phone (WebOS RULEZ!).  If I drive 500 miles a week and somehow managed to not text for any of those  approximately 12 hours a week I’d earn $5 a week or $260 a year, which isn’t much, but more than I earn for not texting now (which is zero).  In theory, already ‘safe’ drivers should benefit by being paid for something they are already doing.

It’s a novel approach to the rapidly growing problem of distracted driving.  In essence paying people to have good driving habits is intended to offset the inconvenience of not using your phone.  Most people would argue that the increased driving safety should be payment enough, but that theory carries varying weight with different people.  Maybe the financial incentive will be enough to put some people over the top about less distracted driving. Personally, I don’t think the amount is enough to move the needle. If not getting in a accident isn’t motivation enough a few cents isn’t going to make a difference for me.  In fact, I’d happily PAY $1 for every 100 miles to be able to use my phone throughout my entire drive more safely.

In the end, I’m sure this approach will do more good than harm, but there is no way it will be the solution to distracted driving.  Mobile devices are only becoming more ingraned in our daily lives and the tendancy to use them while driving will only increase.  Whatever the solution to the distracted driving problem is, it will be a solution that enhances the user experience, not something that looks to limit it.

Related posts:

1. Sprint Offers Android Based Distracted Driving App err… App to Reduce Distracted Driving
2. LaHood Still Looking at Cell Jamming Technology for Cars
3. Texting Bans, Can They Work?

Many groups form and take the discussions further by establishing regularly timed twitter chats focused on their interests.  For example, there are twitter chats any day of the week around topics ranging from bloggers and social media to farming (#agchat) to dogs  to astrology (#astrochat) to Justin Beiber (#JBchat) – yes, Justin Beiber chats!

In general, there are some chats focused on cars (#carchat), but the continued innovation and integration of technology, transportation, consumer electronics and telecommunications and more still fragments some markets.

The convergence, innovation and integration of related industries like mobile phones, traffic, infotainment or wifi and the related new tools, devices, services and companies is inspiring.  The always-on connected vehicle is here to stay and yet continues to evolve.

In order to recognize the convergence and integration of these industries, we are starting a weekly chat using #digicar as our focus.  Short for digitalcars, it also includes the integration of ITS systems, telematics and innovation such as mobile apps.  Join a growing group to discuss relevant topics about the always-on connected vehicle.

We will pick one or two relevant topics per week and hope to encourage the community to share thoughts in the discussion.

The first session will be held on Oct 15 at 1:00 EST.  We plan to build and grow the discussion around weekly topics, such as telematics, traffic, ITS systems, GPS tools, distracted driving, wireless devices and more.

Our chats will be fed to another service that gathers our discussion. With the archive, anyone can return and review the discussions and possibly use for research, blogs or content.

As mobile phones and always-on connectivity advances within cars, our first topic will be around the growing integration of mobile phone apps and their use.

Our first topic of discussion will be:   What are some of the latest trends for integrating mobile apps into the car? Join us for our newly starting twitter chat Fridays at 1:00 EST! Always use the #digicar tag to focus the discussion.

How to prepare:

• Join us for the first session on Oct 15 at 1:00 pm EST. And every Friday.
• Always use the hashtag #digicar
• Inform friends that you may have lots of tweets during the session
• Have some blog links at the ready to feed quickly to the discussion.

What future topics interest you? We hope to hear from your regarding interesting topics but hope you join us as we ramp up.

Kevin Shannon

@ConnectedCar

Related posts:

1. Twitter, Now With Geo-Location
2. Twitter Is Poised to Lead Real-Time Incident Data
3. LaHood Still Looking at Cell Jamming Technology for Cars

The layout of most of the displays is clear and logical, and the voice-command system is still the best I’ve ever used in a car. But Ford’s new user interface has so many options and functions that I believe it presents a challenging learning curve.

Basically it sounds like there are interesting and useful features, but the usability leaves something to be desired.  As the number and variety of features offered increases the challenge to access them quickly and efficiently increases greatly. Ford uses multiple screens and voice controls to give users access, but that in itself adds a layer of complexity.  Screens need to be configured and preferences set so that everything functions the way that works best for the driver.

Mossberg seems to think its over complicated to the point that it’s probably best to do most of your learning in the driveway.  That’s probably not a bad idea, but it’s not a great sign for the not-so-tech-savvy crowd’s.  I don’t know what Ford’s plans for training new customers at dealerships is, but it seems like some required training during vehicle delivery might be very needed.

I’m hoping to get hands on with the system sometime soon, but for now click through for Mossberg’s complete article.  Don’t forget to poke around inTELEMATICStoday.com for lots of detailed information about Sync.

via [WSJ]

Related posts:

1. MyFord Touch Feature Spotlight: Voice Controls
2. MyFord Touch Feature Spotlight: Navigation
3. Ford Sync Has The Lead, Will It Hold On To It?

PopSci is reporting that University of Utah (UofU?) is working on a system that would use physical feedback to alert drivers of a need to turn based on the route set in the navigation system.  The idea here is that using the sense of touch would reduce the number of visual and auditory inputs that are already bombarding drivers and increasing distraction.

This is not a terrible idea, but it will require a great deal of work to make it effective.  As it stands, audio directions are pretty effective.  You usually get a warning before your turn and also at the point you’re supposed to make it, not to mention the every hilarious attempts to read street names and the radio already turns it’s own volume down so as to not drown out directions.

A tactile solution can potentially address most of these issues (not reading street names unless someone is planning on learning Morse code), but I’m not sure how effective it will be beyond left and right turns.

On the other hand, the article notes studies have established that the brain can generally handle inputs over different senses as well if not better than multiple inputs over the same sense (i.e. we can process a visual source and an audio source better than we can process 2 audio sources).  So, the idea of using tactile feedback could have some significant value.  There are also benefits to the hearing impaired drivers which should not be overlooked.

Kia was demonstrating some haptic feedback inputs at CES last year that provided alternative ways to control in-vehicle systems while keeping more eyes on the road.  It’s the other side of the equation (output vs. input), but UofU is ‘talking’ with some OEMs, but there have been no major announcements yet.

Click through for the full press release from UofU.

via [Eurekalert] via [PopSci]

Related posts:

1. Ford Launches MyFord Touch – Next generation of in-vehicle connectivity
2. MyFord Touch Feature Spotlight: Navigation
3. Application Spotlight: Waze

Aha Mobile launched its “Aha Radio” application for the Apple iPhone® earlier this year, which has since become popular among mobile users for sharing real-time, location-based traffic reports, entertainment and social network information.  In addition to planned integration with HARMAN systems, the Company will continue working with third parties to enable customized Web content on their products by leveraging the Aha platform.

I do expect more of this type of acquisition to take place in the future.  The automotive tier 1s are in an excellent position to acquire and integrate big chunks of technology and if that’s not what is supposed to happen to a web based startup then I don’t know what is.

Companies and apps that deliver content and location based services are at the forefront of mobile technology and they wont all be integrated into automotive as third parties, many will get bought up (some maybe even by OEMs themselves) and delivered to customers as an exclusive option for the vehicle.

Aha’s platform offers a lot of opportunities to leverage the latest technologies and content, I’m looking forward to seeing what Harman can do with it. Full text of the press release below.

UPDATE: Roger Lanctot has written a nice piece about this acquisition and On-Star’s Facebook feature. Enjoy!

via [Harman]

HARMAN Acquires Palo Alto-Based Web Content Pioneer to Transform the Mobile Infotainment Experience

Interactive Publishing Platform Offers Safe, Convenient Mobile Internet Access for the Connected Generation

Stamford, CT – September 15, 2010 – Harman International Industries, Inc. (NYSE: HAR), the premium global audio and infotainment group, said today that it has acquired Aha Mobile, Inc., a leading provider of on-demand mobile and location-based Internet content services.  Based in Palo Alto, California, Aha Mobile is a pioneer in converting Web-based content to streaming mobile radio that allows users to safely access their favorite news, entertainment and social media via in-vehicle infotainment systems or smart phone.

“Delivering safe and convenient Internet access to mobile users is one of the biggest challenges facing the infotainment industry,” said Dinesh C. Paliwal, HARMAN Chairman, President and CEO.  “In particular, the rapid growth of social networking through platforms such as Facebook®, Twitter® and others must be carefully managed in the automotive environment to prevent driver distraction.  This transformative technology will enable HARMAN to extend its leadership by dramatically expanding the information available to today’s connected generation while providing a safe, interactive experience.”

Aha Mobile was launched in 2008 by a group of Web and multimedia veterans with a shared passion for delivering an “always-on,” connected lifestyle experience via dynamic audio content that originates on the Internet.  The company’s robust audio publishing platform blends user preferences, behavior, and predictive search technologies to deliver a customized information experience that even adapts based on the user’s expected traffic corridor.  Integrated speech-to-text technology allows users to verbally interact via social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook or select from an expected 1000+ channels of Web-based audio information.

“Streaming, on-demand Web content technology is a natural complement to HARMAN’s premium infotainment systems, and we look forward to expanding the reach of this innovative platform to delight new customers,” said Paliwal.  “We will deploy this new technology to strengthen our global leadership as the provider of choice for rich, interactive infotainment on the road, around the home, or on the go.”

Aha Mobile launched its “Aha Radio” application for the Apple iPhone® earlier this year, which has since become popular among mobile users for sharing real-time, location-based traffic reports, entertainment and social network information.  In addition to planned integration with HARMAN systems, the Company will continue working with third parties to enable customized Web content on their products by leveraging the Aha platform.

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets – supported by 15 leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 20 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems.  HARMAN has a workforce of about 11,000 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported sales of $3.4 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2010.  The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.

Related posts:

1. QNX, chumby Bring Personalized Internet Experience to the Car
2. Smartphones and Embedded Systems
3. Application Spotlight: Aha Mobile

We’ve already covered the Sync Apps and APIs extensively so click through to the original post to read more.

You can also check out the Ford Sync category for more extensive information on the Ford Sync system.

Full text of the press release below.

SYNC AppLink to launch on 2011 fiesta, MAKING FORD FIRST TO DELIVER voice control of smartphone apps

· Ford will first offer SYNC® AppLink, a downloadable software program, on the 2011 Fiesta, allowing owners to access and control AndroidTM and BlackBerry® smartphone apps with voice commands and vehicle controls

· Pandora internet radio, Stitcher “smart radio” and Orangatame’s OpenBeak are the first SYNC-enabled mobile applications

· Ford to create SYNC developer community with launch of new “Mobile Application Developer Network” (www.syncmyride.com/developer), giving developers a pathway to partner with Ford on SYNC-enabled applications

· Ford’s platform approach with SYNC is poised to harness smartphone app development and mobile web access; apps expected to be a $4 billion industry by 2012; analysts predict the mobile device to become the No. 1 source for Internet access by 2015

SAN FRANCISCO, April 20, 2010 – Customers have spoken — asking for safe, convenient access to their smartphone apps while in the vehicle – and Ford is responding by announcing the new SYNC AppLink software that will allow hands-free voice control of popular smartphone apps.

SYNC AppLink, a downloadable software upgrade, will be released for 2011 Ford Fiesta owners with the award-winning SYNC communications and infotainment system later this year, allowing drivers hands-free control of apps on their Android or BlackBerry smartphones via voice commands and vehicle controls. Ford will introduce AppLink on all SYNC-equipped vehicles next year, as well as provide interoperability with iPhone and other smartphones.

“The growth in smartphone mobile apps has been explosive, and Ford has worked hard to respond at the speed of the consumer electronics market,” said Doug VanDagens, director of Ford’s Connected Services Organization. “SYNC is the only connectivity system available that can extend that functionality into the car. AppLink will allow drivers to control some of the most popular apps through SYNC’s voice commands and steering wheel buttons, helping drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.”

The Android MarketTM and BlackBerry App World™ are among the leading growth markets for mobile apps. The new SYNC AppLink will seamlessly integrate apps using the vehicle’s voice and user interface controls, including buttons on the steering wheel, increasing eyes-on-the-road and hands-on-the-wheel time.

The first SYNC-enabled apps available later this year include Pandora internet radio, Stitcher “smart radio” and Orangatame’s OpenBeak app for Twitter, with additional apps on the way. Updated versions of each app, incorporating the SYNC application programming interface (API), will be available through Android Market and BlackBerry App World for customers to download.

Built-in, Beamed-in and Brought-in: The SYNC App Ecosystem

From its introduction, Ford has been building an ecosystem of available SYNC apps, continuously improving the consumer experience.

· Built-in apps, including Vehicle Health Report and 911 Assist™, are downloaded and installed directly on the in-car SYNC operating system

· SYNC apps like Traffic, Directions & Information rely on beamed-in, or “cloud-based,” information. Drivers access the Ford Service Delivery Network, a network of data centers providing turn-by-turn directions, business searches, and on-demand news, sports and weather information, through a simple voice-connection using their cell phone.

· SYNC AppLink represents the third category of the ecosystem, brought-in apps, leveraging apps installed on a user’s smartphone, such as Pandora, Stitcher and OpenBeak

Studies show mobile app development – a niche market just three years ago – is expected to blossom into a $4 billion industry by 2012. Sites serving specific mobile operating systems, such as Android and BlackBerry OS, have experienced massive growth, with analysts predicting the mobile device will become the No. 1 source for Internet access by 2015, surpassing the home computer.

Ford and SYNC will answer the consumer demand by offering the only platform available for drivers to safely control their mobile devices and applications in the car. Leveraging SYNC’s safer voice commands and steering wheel controls, drivers are able to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. “Brought-in” apps residing on a consumer’s smartphone also eliminate the need for yet another piece of hardware to be installed in the car which only serves to add cost and complexity.

Customers will be able to download SYNC-enabled mobile apps through the same app store interfaces currently used. As SYNC-enabled versions of existing apps are released into the app stores, users will be prompted to download the latest version upon connection. Also, as developers grasp the notion that the vehicle interior has opened to them, a new dimension of apps designed from the outset to maximize the unique in-car environment will follow.

Opening the door to developers

To facilitate future SYNC-enabled app development, Ford has also activated a new developer network on its SYNCmyride Web site (www.syncmyride.com/developer). Interested developers can find a link to submit innovative ideas, and sign up for the latest information and news about the SYNC application programming interface (API) and software development kit (SDK). The package will allow developers to modify existing applications and create all-new apps that can successfully interface with SYNC

Working with trusted partners, Ford is completing beta-testing on the SDK. Once beta-testing is complete, a broader release of the development tools is planned for later this year. Initial reports have been positive, with one of Ford’s development partners creating a SYNC-enabled version of its app just three days after receiving the development tools.

“We’re very pleased by the rapid development time and positive feedback we’ve seen from our first partners,” said VanDagens. “We want to encourage all developers to visit our site and submit ideas, helping us tap into the global pool of innovation and

Related posts:

1. Ford Sync Release AppLink to 2011 Fiesta; Apple iPhone Supported
2. Ford Sync Feature Spotlight: API and Apps (aka AppLink)
3. Ford Sync Fact Sheet

Matt Richtel and members of The New York Times Staff for incisive work, in print and online, on the hazardous use of cell phones, computers and other devices while operating cars and trucks, stimulating widespread efforts to curb distracted driving.

The series of articles, a game, some videos and the timeline of cellular phones lays out a pretty strong case for the need to address driver distraction.

I’ve already written about some of the articles, but I couldn’t possible cover it all.  If you’re interested in learning more about driver distraction you should definitely start with inTELEMATICStoday.com, but after that the NYT Pulitzer Prize winning series probably isn’t a bad option either.

via [NYT]

Related posts:

1. Driving Distracted (With a Badge?)
2. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up
3. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up

“We understand that the new rule is mobile first,” Schmidt said. “Mobile first in everything. Mobile first in terms of applications. Most first in terms of the way people use things. And it means … that we have a role now to inform, to educate through all these devices.”

Schmidt mentions education being a key element of the future of mobile and we previously talked about how kids and education can be wrapped into rear-seat entertainment systems.

Schmidt also said, “What is important now is to get the mobile architecture right. Because mobility will be the way you will provision in the future.  Fast forward 5-10 years. The answer should always be mobile.”

Generally the discussion has been about the mobile web and smartphones (etc), but there is an extremely important lesson to be learned by the automotive industry.  The framework that is established in the vehicle is the key to a successful system.  The architecture has to be something that is flexible enough to be customized, but more importantly it needs to be extend-able.  One of histories many lessons has to be that what consumers want now is not necessarily what they want in two years.  Future telematics platforms needs to be developed with this in mind.

The technology world as a whole is just beginning to embrace this mentality with smartphones, mobile web, cloud computing and the like. In my post ‘The App is the Future of Telematics‘ we discuss the app landscape of the automotive industry and how different companies are taking different approaches to solve the problem.

In the same conversation Schmidt said that there is no such thing as communication overload.  While that’s true when walking around (or sitting in a meeting) in the car driver distraction is a major issue.  It’s not a slam dunk that every app developed for the mobile world will translate to an automotive application.  In fact, most wont and it will take careful planning to modify existing implementations for the automotive world.

There is no doubt that mobile is the future.  Automotive is part of the ecosystem and the industry needs to actively manage it’s piece of the mobile marketplace.

For good measure, you can watch Eric Schmidt’s talk at Atmosphere below.

Related posts:

1. Pearl Mobile DTV Is A Big Deal For Mobile TV
2. Smartphones and Embedded Systems
3. Your Car Can Be Hacked And Its Going To Get Easier To Do

It’s a big move towards automotive from one of the leaders in smartphones (even if it is still more business oriented).

While QNX’s partnership with Alcatel-Lucent promises to target the complete spectrum of in-vehicle connectivity, a partnership with RIM opens up wider market opportunities for both QNX and RIM. The timing of the deal is ideal given that several OEMs participating in volume segments of the market have yet to launch branded, high-profile connectivity solutions. There is still time for a RIM-QNX collaboration capable of helping RIM vault into contention with both Nokia and Apple for automotive connectivity leadership.

There is a lot to keep an eye on here, so you can expect to hear a lot more.  For now, click through and have a read.

via [strategy analytics]

Related posts:

1. The Internet Radio Universe
2. Smartphones and Embedded Systems
3. TomTom Embraced Openness Once, Is It Time to Again?

I don’t have much news other than what is in the press release, but it seems like this joint venture, called Pearl Mobile DTV Company, automatically becomes a major player in mobile TV.  What does this mean for FloTV?

Pearl Mobile will take advantage of the “ATSC-M/H, an open broadcast transmission system developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) specifically for mobile devices.”  This technology is backwards compatible with existing broadcast DTV standards, so existing DTV receivers will need no modification to receive signal (usually this means the hardware will be cheap and widely available).  Almost most importantly, given the players coming together as part of this endeavor they are guaranteed content people want to watch.  And as we all know, content is king.

The release says, “The venture is designed to complement the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) National Broadband Initiative by giving consumers mobile access to video content while reducing congestion of the nation’s wireless broadband infrastructure.”

I don’t know exactly what that means, I do intend to figure that out.

For the automotive industry, the establishment of a mobile TV standard and the adoption of that standard is a big deal.  Satellite TV never really hit the mark and Flo has been making progress, but they are swimming upstream.  The increased availability of options will lead to better coverage and higher adoption rate amongst manufacturers.

There has been some talk about rear seat entertainment around here and this is another service that will definitely give RSE a boost.

Full press release below.

Twelve Major Broadcast Groups to Form Joint Venture to Develop National Mobile Content Service

LAS VEGAS, April 13 /PRNewswire/ — Belo Corp., Cox Media Group, E.W. Scripps Co., Fox, Gannett Broadcasting, Hearst Television Inc., ION Television, Media General Inc., Meredith Corp., NBC, Post-Newsweek Stations Inc. and Raycom Media today announced plans to form a standalone joint venture to develop a new national mobile content service. Utilizing existing broadcast spectrum, the service will allow member companies to provide content to mobile devices, including live and on-demand video, local and national news from print and electronic sources, as well as sports and entertainment programming.

Broadcast spectrum to be utilized for the new mobile service will come from the three owned-and-operated station groups — Fox, NBC & Telemundo, and ION — and the nine local broadcast groups, which are Belo, Cox, E.W. Scripps, Gannett, Hearst, Media General, Meredith, Post Newsweek and Raycom. Separately, these nine local broadcast companies formed Pearl Mobile DTV Company LLC as a vehicle for their involvement in the venture.

By aggregating existing broadcast spectrum from its launch partners, the new venture will have the capacity to offer a breadth of mobile video and print content to nearly 150 million U.S. residents. In addition to broadcast spectrum, the partners will commit content, marketing resources and capital to the new venture. The service will employ ATSC-M/H, an open broadcast transmission system developed by the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) specifically for mobile devices.

The venture is designed to complement the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC) National Broadband Initiative by giving consumers mobile access to video content while reducing congestion of the nation’s wireless broadband infrastructure. In addition, the service’s mobile content network will have the capacity to deliver local and national time-sensitive emergency information to citizens across the U.S.

Regarding the announcement, Jack Abernethy, Chief Executive Officer of Fox Television Stations, stated: “We are excited about building a platform that makes mobile television universally available and economically viable. This venture is the first step in forging cross-industry and company partnerships to deliver content to consumers.”

“This initiative offers a path for the next generation of video consumption, and will help the FCC in its goal of ensuring efficient and reliable broadband service for US consumers,” said John Wallace, President, NBC Local Media.

“Local broadcasters are the backbone of the U.S. media industry,” said David J. Barrett, President and CEO of Hearst Television Inc. “This sharing of content, broadcast spectrum, marketing resources and capital is unprecedented, and underscores U.S. broadcasters’ commitment to bringing vital local news, weather, and emergency information to increasingly mobile U.S. consumers. This is a critically important initiative that holds great promise for our audiences and the television industry. This is truly the next generation of local television service.”

“This venture takes to the next level the work we embarked upon three years ago with the development of Mobile DTV technology, in anticipation of digital TV capabilities and consumer mobile demand,” said Brandon Burgess, CEO of ION Television.

“Mobile digital television places each of our companies at the center of a consumer transformation, putting us on cell phones, netbooks, DVD players and even in-vehicle entertainment systems,” said David Lougee, President, Gannett Broadcasting, Gannett Co. Inc. “And it’s the consumers who are the big winners. From news and entertainment to emergency information, virtually all U.S. consumers will soon be able to bring their most valuable content with them wherever they go.”

Information regarding a dedicated management team that will focus on securing additional content, spectrum and distribution partnerships for the venture will be made available at a later date.

via [prnewsire]

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With the oncoming proliferation of apps and advanced connected applications the RSE market is a huge opportunity.  I’ve already spent some time talking about how kids could fit into telematics strategies and some of the potential for RSE systems.

Because RSE users are encumbered by all those silly driver safety laws they can become (and rapidly are becoming) rolling media centers / offices.

Toyota, meanwhile, has an RSE in its new 2011 Toyota Sienna minivan that features a 16.4-inch-wide screen drop-down LCD, a DVD player, a 100W AC 120V outlet, an auxiliary input for gaming systems or other devices, and an iPod interface.

At present, the largest display for an RSE system anywhere allows for a split-screen view when two sources have been activated. Next are the 10.2-inch screens—seen on the new 2011 Audi A8, and whose RSE system will include its own AMI, a 20Gbyte HDD, two SD card slots, a DVD player, a Human Machine Interface (HMI) and connectivity with the rest of the vehicle.

With the availability of mobile broadband, especially 3G-to-WiFi devices, that allow mobile connectivity for one or more passengers make streaming music / video, web browsing, email, on and on, so easily accessible that it’s hard to imagine a future for RSE that doesn’t include large touchscreens and connected apps.

via [isuppli]

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The article talks about how the Wynn Las Vegas, City of Chicago, Lucky Magazine, Tasti D-Lite, and Starbucks are using Foursquare to increase customer engagement, loyalty and satisfaction within the check-in and badges framework of the location based application.

Maybe this type of brand integration is the type of additional revenue stream that might help justify and speed up the adoption rates of OEMs.  Given that the car is how most of us enable our own mobility is the car the best opportunity for location based games / ads like Foursquare?

The city of Chicago’s approach of using badges and tips to inform visitors to restaurants, neighborhoods, parks, etc is intriguing as a smart phone application, but what about directly integrated into the vehicle navigation?  Starbucks use of Foursquare to reward frequent customers and gauge activity at locations is one model that will translate very closely to the relationship between customer and dealership.

I’m absolutely sure that OEM’s can use an app like Foursquare to engage customers visiting dealerships.  Not only to reward returning customers for an oil change, but also to connect with customers who are out shopping for a new car (and maybe check-in at multiple dealerships in the same day).

The opportunities are almost literally limitless…

via [mashable]

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The iPhone has a huge hardware lead, but Android is rapidly being rolled out across many different handsets.

The forecast expects revenue from mobile app sales to decline by 2012 as a result of price competition, but I would still expect overall revenue to increase significantly as mobile advertising comes into its own in 2010 and beyond.

According to Vice President of Forecasting Jake Saunders, “As competition heats up, app makers are both dropping prices and ‘going free’ to stay on top of the download charts.”

The proliferation of handsets and the adoption and integration of these technologies into the vehicle will only serve to further increase the app market.  The future of revenues is probably not in selling the apps so much as advertising and other related revenue streams.

Advertising in the car continues to be a question mark.  How can you deliver ads to the vehicle without making the driver and passengers want to kill themselves unobtrusively?  While many many service providers are scrambling to figure out location based mobile advertising the paid app market will continue to fuel the smartphone movement.

via [abi research]

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As it stands now developers generally have to create versions of their apps for both the iPhone and Android (and webOS a distant 3rd) not to mention a separate version for the ‘standard’ web.  This can be a daunting task and in many cases developers will just go with iPhone development because it has the largest user base.

Technologies like HTML5 might offer developers an alternative option that not only works cross platform, but also removes application stores, over the air updates, memory issues and more from the equation.

For example, recently Apple and Google had a little tiff over gVoice apps the big-G tried to get approved in the iPhone app store. Long story short, after some back and forth, Google decided that developing a mobile version of Google Voice in HTML5 was a better option than bothering with app stores.  With a single blow Google created an ‘app’ that works on Windows Mobile,  the iPhone and my ever forlorn WebOS.  And, for the record, it works well…though I must say, not as well as the gVoice app that used to be available (the major difference is that you have to dial out to listen to voicemails rather than just clicking ‘listen’ in the app…I expect that to be resolved eventually).

It raises some interested questions as OEMs begin to draw their party lines…  Each OEM is looking to find a solution that allows users to take advantage of mobile connectivity just like they do with a smartphone, but while driving safely and leveraging the advantages of the in-vehicle platform (continuous power, better speakers, increased mobility, etc).  Rather than choosing a platform that may close off options or leveraging the user devices to minimize what the system has to do, does it make sense for OEMs to consider the web browser as their platform for delivering apps and services.

Obviously I’m not talking about a fully operational web browser while I’m driving, but it essentially turns the in-vehicle system into a thin client with the browser as the portal to the various web sites.  It could easily be configured in almost exactly the same way apps would need to be setup (i.e. big buttons, easy menus, lots of shortcut buttons, etc), but rather than downloading an app to the car or having to pair your phone the in-vehicle system displays the app in real-time as needed.  The standard thin-client problems would, of course still exist (primarily, if there is no connection then there is no service), but those problems exist in many forms under the app model as well.

Since connectivity will never be available across 100% of any country I’d expect that in the long term there will be a blending of the thin-client and embedded models to create a hybrid that takes advantage of the best of both worlds.  I definitely believe that it makes the most sense for developers to pursue opportunities that will have the broadest reach and to that end, it’s definitely worth considering what Google is saying.

via [Venture Beat]

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The growth of app stores has gotten users accustomed to the model of downloading and installing apps and provided a platform for developers to effectively sell their applications.  This no doubt benefits automotive systems.  For years automotive systems have been limited and confusing, but as the market becomes more savvy it becomes easier and easier to introduce complicated technologies to the vehicle.  The sheer volume of apps and developers means that as OEMs adopt these advanced technologies the applications will be readily available for users.

Mobile apps and the availability of wireless connectivity have been tied in a chicken and egg problem for a long time, but now the race is over. The smartphone provides a platform for apps and 3G connectivity is every enough for the masses to take advantage.   All the web technologies that drive mobile and web2.0 apps also benefit the automotive systems as the connected car becomes another internet portal with a few special quirks (like 4 wheels and an engine).

Tolve argues that the rapidly changing face of smartphones requires constant updates to in-vehicle systems and that this is a point in favor of using embedded systems rather than one that is brought in (like on a smartphone).  While I agree overall, I believe that the goal of in-vehicle systems should be to get to the point of supporting almost the same level of flexibility as a smartphone.  Granted, the vehicle hardware is almost required to have a longer lifecycle than a mobile device (for example, it’s much harder to upgrade wireless connectivity in a car than it is to buy a new phone), but just about everything that isn’t hardware should be able to be updated over the air (or at least through software updates on a USB stick).

OEMs will have to figure out ways to shorten the lifecycle of infotainment / navigation hardware (even if not to the level of mobile devices) while also taking full advantage of all the potential benefits of new software technologies.  So, the smartphone is both friend and foe to the automotive telematics.

It’s an interesting article overall and definitely worth a read.  Click through to Telematics Update for the whole thing.

via [Telematics Update]

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Now, sit back and enjoy a little reading before you take a long lunch and leave early… It is the weekend after all!

Twitter, Now with Geo-Location – Twitter has announced the addition of a more significant tweet your location feature that allows users to add location information from their mobile device to their tweets and, most importantly, makes that information searchable for other users.

Telenav’s Top 10 Most Searched – The Telenav Blog posted top 10 usage statistics of their users and there are some noteworthy items.

Driving Distracted (with a badge?) – Matt Richtel at the The New York Times talks about the ever growing number of police, fire fighters, paramedics, etc that are weaving through traffic at high speeds while talking on a cell phone or radio and typing on a laptop or navigation system.

Application Spotlight: Waze – Waze is a turn-by-turn navigation platform with it’s roots in real-time user provided data

Application Spotlight: Aha Mobile - Aha Mobile will give you a customized traffic report, your facebook / twitter updates, yelp reviews and move all based on your preferences and location and delivered as audio through your device’s (phone or vehicle) speakers.

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Aha’s model is to have the user setup any preferences and customization beforehand and keep the drivers interactions with the phone (or head unit) as simple as possible while driving.  For now the app is only available to iPhone users and controls are only available through the device, but Aha’s plan is obviously to integrate more closely with vehicle systems to further reduce driver distraction.

The feature list seems pretty ambitious and includes some crazy novel features:

• Nearby Traffic:  Wondering what traffic is like two miles up the road, at the next exit or on an approaching highway? Nearby Traffic gives you an instant traffic report based on your current location. Aha creates this report using data from best-in-class third party traffic providers Inrix and Clear Channel, and from voice notes left by other drivers near you. Tap the microphone icon to share a 15-second “Shout” about the road you’re on and help other drivers nearby. [Authors Comment: 'Shouts' have to be approved before they are published...I wonder if Clear Channel's traffic centers are at all involved in that]

• My Traffic:  During your first-time set up, use Settings to tell Aha which roads you care about, such as your daily commute, then tap the My Traffic button to get an instant traffic report on those specific roads. [Authors Comment: Probably useful for people with commute with regular areas of congestion (i.e. anywhere in Los Angeles)]
• Facebook:  Tempted to check Facebook while you’re in traffic? Unsafe! Tap your Facebook station and Aha will read aloud your friend’s status updates. Aha filters out game updates, media item posts, and long Web addresses so you can just hear what your friends are up to. You can even post an Aha voice note to your wall for friends to hear. [Authors Comment: I'm super skeptical as to how well this would work, but I want to try it out]
• Community Stations, or “the new CB Radio”:  Bored in traffic and want to let loose your inner Idol? Tune into the “Caraoke” station to hear your fellow drivers sing along to the radio, then tap the mic and leave your own song clip for the whole world to hear. Or, tune into the “Jokes,” “Rants,” or other community stations for a laugh. [Authors Comment: I really don't like listening to amateurs on the radio and I don't think I'd like this feature at all.  No doubt some people will love listening to other people in traffic sing along to the radio.]
• Twitter Lists:  Want to keep track of what sports stars, TV show actors, or other celebrities are tweeting? Just select their Twitter station in Aha and hear their latest updates read to you.
• Hungry:  Want to stop for a bite to eat? The “Hungry” channel tells you about restaurants you might like that are coming up ahead. Only want to hear about sushi restaurants with average Yelp reviews of four stars or more? Do your kids like specific chains? Aha pre-filters the results based on your preferences, prioritizes them based on proximity to you, and describes their location so you can tell where they are. Tap the phone or map icon to put in a call or get a route. [Authors Comment: I believe you have to preset your searches which seems a bit cumbersome, but maybe would work for people that frequent particular areas or types of food.  Again a little skeptical about how effectively this information can be delivered over an audio channel. Visual is much more effective (yes, I know it's not as safe in the car).]
• Podcasts:  Aha Radio gives you one-touch access to the current version of popular podcasts like Fox News’ hourly updates and NPR’s “This American Life” so drivers can get instant access, without having to sync their device. See break lights up ahead while listening? With one touch, interrupt your podcast to get a live traffic report, then continue listening to the podcast where you left off.  [Authors Comment: Not sure how this is streamed or if anything is stored on the device.  Anyone know?]

There are a lot of companies working to find a way to effectively and safely deliver all these types of content and more.  Aha Mobile has taken a primarily audio approach (which is probably a ‘traditional’ way of approaching this problem) but with so many different types of information being delivered (FB updates, tweets, traffic, food reviews, etc) it is difficult to generalize all of it to audio content.

I don’t use an iPhone so I haven’t been able to try this app out yet… Have you tried it? What do you think?

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It is a free service that started in Israel (and has over 100,000 users there), but is being rolled out across the United States.  According to Waze.com the application uses the United States Census Bureau TIGER map and will allow for manual map updates and edits to improve the accuracy of the map.  In addition to passively providing flow data users can actively interact with maps to provide street name updates, incident reports, construction notices and more thus providing the most up-to-date data set possible to users (and, in theory, allowing for the best turn-by-turn directions).

It’s interesting that Waze repeatedly says it is not a navigation application (which it clearly is a type of), but instead they say it is “designed to facilitate driving to the places one knows very well – for example, work.”  An interesting distinction… The application is intended to keep you up to date on the latest traffic information related to areas you frequent (i.e. areas where your Waze app will be uploading data from).  Now, it would seem logical to me  since a basic feature of the application is turn-by-turn directions (presumably to direct you around congestion) that Waze should be equally as useful in areas where you are not quite as familiar.  Also interesting, that the Waze FAQ calls out the similarity to Dash, but insists it is different because it is free (meh).

I really like the ability to update the map on the fly as well as record gps data for an unmarked road you might be driving down, but the real problem with this purely probe model of information gathering remains the need for a critical mass of users.  With 100,000 users in Israel Waze can apparently do a pretty good job of reporting traffic, but would a 100,000 be enough to even cover Los Angeles?  Ok, it might be (the math behind these predictions is pretty impressive and can make do with less data than you’d think), but it will be some time before I can make a 20 mile commute with relevant data all along the way.  It should also be noted that as with any system like this you are subject to your connectivity…if you can’t get data in the app is useless (not a new concern, but worth noting when you’re discussing navigation systems).

Waze has a neat product and it’s still growing.  Currently available on Android and iPhone platforms the potential user base is significant (fingers crossed for a WebOS version?) and  I look forward to seeing what they have to offer in the near future.

via [waze]

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Matt Richtel at the The New York Times talks about the ever growing number of police, fire fighters, paramedics, etc that are weaving through traffic at high speeds while talking on a cell phone or radio and typing on a laptop or navigation system.

Ambulances and police cars are becoming increasingly wired. Some 75 percent of police cruisers have on-board computers, a figure that has doubled over the last decade, says David Krebs, an industry analyst with the VDC Research Group. He estimates about 30 percent of ambulances have such technology.

There is no question that these groups of people are at the absolute top of the list of folks that have good reason to use these technologies while in motion (do you want an ambulance to pull over to input a destination on their way to your house?) and the article even notes an estimated savings of 20-30 seconds per call.

So what has to happen to keep these technologies safe? Well, in my mind, exactly the same thing that has to happen for consumers…simplified UIs, voice controls and hardware integration.  The NYT article mentions a University of New Hampshire project (federally backed with $34million) is working on hands-free technology for police cars (and a quick Google search reveals other projects), but I can’t seem to find which, if any, of the major voice control providers they are working with.

It would only make sense that the technology being used is the same as is used in consumer applications (this is one case where the demands are essentially the same between consumers and law enforcement or fire fighting).  That being said, I’m a bit surprised there isn’t a more readily available solution already on the market.  Maybe this is one area with Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood might look to impose some government regulation (just speculating, but these vehicles are a very logical place for the government to start).

Though there seem to be very few reports of technology-distraction related accidents the article provides a number of anecdotes from law enforcement and paramedics of people injured or almost injured by a driver distracted by in-vehicle technology of some sort.

In April 2008, an emergency medical technician in West Nyack, N.Y., looked at his GPS screen, swerved and hit a parked flatbed truck. The crash sheared off the side of the ambulance and left his partner, who was in the passenger seat, paralyzed.

Apparently in many places the laws against cell phones and texting while driving do not apply to these types of civil servants.  I, for my part, am totally ok with that… What do you think? Should a police officer’s navigation system be locked out when moving over 5mph (assuming he doesn’t have a partner in the passenger seat)?

Click through to the NYT for the full article.

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Los Angeles tops the list of cities where users are more likely to use GPS to reroute around traffic which is in line with Inrix’s Traffic Scorecard which placed LA as the most congested city in 2009.  LA was also the city where the most GPS searches occurred, but, strangely (to me anyway), Maryland and DC topped the list of areas where users most frequently used GPS navigation.

Users in the state of Maryland were the most frequent users of GPS guidance in the US, using it for twice as many trips per month than the national average.

All these searches add up to pretty good data about business and habits, but there are no big surprises… Walmart and Starbucks are the most searched business and Pizza and Chinese the most searched foods.

Click through to the Telenav Blog for the full writeup…

via [Telenav Blog]

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Now when you come across that police blockade you’ll be able to search near your location for relevant tweets and find out why the police have surrounded your building (or, more realistically, find out how far that blackout you’re stuck in reaches).

As this functionality is integrated into applications like Foursquare and Waze and others yet to be developed I believe it delivers that final necessary layer of information to make Twitter a true potential leader for in-vehicle information.  Without the added value of 3rd party applications Twitter + geo-location information could be an extremely powerful tool for the transfer of data to and from the vehicle.  I can already think of at least 3 ways to take advantage of the power of Twitter’s real-time information stream to improve real-time traffic data (if you’d like to discuss them, e-mail me).

I have already talked about how Twitter’s platform has the potential to become a major player in real-time incident data and the addition of this geo-location information combined with some voice commands will lend a great deal of credibility to the use case for in-vehicle tweeting.

As with all the socially networked location based services there are significant concerns about the safety of letting the world know where you are.  Sites like PleaseRobMe.com shine a light on some of the potential negatives of all this location based information.  Twitter seems to be taking the necessary steps to put the decision to share information in the hands of the user (and at that point it’s up to the user not to be an idiot…I know, not something easily relied upon).

Your Privacy and Tweet with Location

We want you to have control over how and when your location information is shared. Tweet With Location is off by default, and as a user you need to opt-in to the service. You can turn Tweet With Location on or off at any time, as well as clear your location before you Tweet. You can also delete all your past location data with a single click (the How to Tweet With Your Location help page has instructions to do this).

It’s already a good idea to be cautious and careful about the amount of information you share online. There may be some updates where you want to share your location (“The parade is starting now.” or “A truck just spilled delicious candy all over the roadway!”), and some updates where you want to keep your location private. Just like you might not want to tweet your home address, please be cautious in tweeting coordinates you don’t want others to see.

Remember that when you’re opted in to Tweet With Your Location, you can still select to not share your location for individual Tweets, or choose to share a more general location level if your application allows. Please familiarize yourself with our general location settings and the settings of any applications and devices you tweet with so that you are always aware of the information you share. Remember, once you post something online, it’s out there for others to see.

Overall a Twitter enabled 3rd party application with ties to real-time incident data is amongst the first apps I would want to download to my car.   I have no doubt that by the time in-vehicle apps have hit their stride that there will be a plethora of options to choose from.  The question is what will differentiate one app from an another and will a clear leader emerge… Apps like Foursquare provide the added value and engagement of offering rewards to users while Waze provides turn-by-turn navigation based on user submitted traffic updates.

This is only the tip of the iceberg, but mark my words… Twitter’s engine for real-time information sharing has the power to make a huge impact on automotive telematics.

You can click through for the full post from Twitter here.

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2. Twitter Is Poised to Lead Real-Time Incident Data
3. Location Awareness Keeps On Rolling

Now, sit back and enjoy a little reading before you take a long lunch and leave early… It is the weekend after all!

Startups Serve Travelers with Phone Apps and Networking — Kevin Shannon follows up last week post on social networking in the rideshare / carpool space with profiles of some of the leaders in the space.

Ford Sync Feature Spotlight: APIs and Apps — We take a look at Ford’s plans to open an API to the Sync system, the pros and cons, and some of the apps that will be available at launch.

TomTom Embraced Openness Once, Is It Time to Again? — Strategy Analytics Roger Lanctot talks about TomTom and some of the challenges and opportunities facing the PND market.



The NextGen of Telematics – Edmunds.com brings us an overview of the telematics offerings from the major OEMs.

Ford Sync Feature Spotlight: Security – A closer look at some of the principles Ford employs to keep your vehicle, information and telematics system secure.

Google in Position to Control Mobile Future – Jagdish Rebello of iSuppli talks about how Google is using it’s classic strategy of giving things away for free to turn the mobile advertising and search markets to their favor.

Related posts:

1. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up
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By pursuing a strategy of working with the mobile chain rather than against it, Google Inc. has a strong chance of success in its bid to transform the wireless business from its traditional model of being driven by voice subscriptions to a new approach of being supported by broadband-based mobile advertising revenue, according to iSuppli Corp. If Google can execute this strategy, it stands to rewrite the rules in the $1 trillion wireless industry.

Google is really attacking the entire value chain, from the the potential to become an ISP to offering an operating system to launching it’s own hardware Google is involved in every aspect of the ecosystem that supports their core business (ads and search).

During the past three years, Google has continually targeted the mobile communications industry with a series of initiatives. From offering free Wi-Fi services, to developing a free and powerful open operating system for smart phones—Android—to offering free maps and turn-by-turn navigation services, to introducing a Googlebranded phone—the Nexus One—the Internet search giant is revolutionizing the mobile value chain in an attempt to unlock new value and to expand an industry desperately searching for the next inflection point.

Like the rest of the mobile value chain, Google is actively seeking to uncover new user behavior patterns and to drive social networking services through the promotion of cloud storage and computing, mobile advertising, and a variety of location-based services. All of the free Google offerings are driving toward this goal.

We’ve even discussed how Google’s free navigation application is a game changer in the industry and as Rebello points out, “The beauty of Google’s navigation initiative is that its offering, while free, will result in profits via mobile search and advertising.”

These moves by Google are intended to drive the increased use of mobile searches and prompt new social networking behaviors that leverage cloud storage and mobile advertising. Given its overwhelming dominance in the Internet search application market, Google is now poised to leverage its search capabilities with Location Based Services (LBS) to drive mobile search results targeted at the location of the mobile consumer. Clearly, Google’s strategy is to expand into areas where it has a competitive advantage due to its dominance in search and advertising. This, coupled with mobile advertising and mobile commerce, has the potential to unlock tremendous value for the mobile user and to drive new revenue opportunities for Google.

Because of all these factors, Google is well positioned to reshape the wireless business in its own image.

via [iSuppli]

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