It’s no surprise that the iPhone is the most popular camera used to take pictures hosted on Flickr.  It’s probably the single most popular consumer device that has a camera, the quality has improved, and it’s connectivity as a phone allows it to upload directly to Flickr (rather than meaning to upload all those pictures and getting lazy about it).

The thing worth noting here is that a camera does not need to be top of the line to be useful to people and the ability to upload on-the-fly is key.  The car is such a mobile platform and ubiquitous part of daily life that it should have a camera and not just a wonky backup camera.

Cameras (internal and external) would offer all sorts of engaging applications.  With built-in geotagging and upload capabilities the car might even be able to rival the smart phone as a source of still images and video.

Cars will eventually have cameras for things like lane recognition, but there will definitely be more fun options than that.  What would you use a CarCam for?

via [holykaw] via [picturemore]

Related posts:

1. The Dangers of GPS, ‘The Simpsons’-Style
2. Traffic Data Will Be a Battlezone in 2010
3. iPhone OS 4.0 Has Automotive Implications

We’re working on expanding in a few places and this is just the first step.  Join in the conversation!

In Telematics Today LinkedIn Group

Related posts:

1. Telematics Update Conversation with Gary Gale, Dir of Engineering, Yahoo! Geo Technologies
2. Pearl Mobile DTV Is A Big Deal For Mobile TV
3. FCC to Discuss 700mhz Spectrum

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 Feature Spotlight: API and Apps (aka AppLink)
2. Application Spotlight: AppSpace.com
3. The App is the Future of Telematics

Multitasking has gotten the headlines and rightfully so.  It is a powerful addition and something that has been significantly lacking from the iPhone arsenal (much like copy and paste was lacking for so long).  For your reference, multitasking means that multiple applications can be run simultaneously and applications can run tasks in the background.  This is important because previously an iPhone app couldn’t work without being actively open.  For example, users of location based apps like Latitude and Loopt had to keep apps open to have their position updated.  Multitasking allows ‘background location’ which means that users can actually check their email without giving up the location updates.  This is a key element of making location based services and advertising a viable element of the iPhone environment.

Background audio means that apps like MP3s and Pandora can now listen to music while using a separate app for navigation…a logical next step when you think about this next thing.

The second feature is what is being called ‘iPod out’ and speculation is that it points to an iPod / iPhone automotive dock coming from Apple. A simplified interface and dash mounted dock would go a long way towards making the leading smartphone a bit easier and safer to use in the car.  The details are still rolling in so you can check back for details, but it seems clear that Apple is at least acknowledging that people are using their phones while driving.

via [TUAW] and [gizmodo]

Related posts:

1. Location Awareness Keeps On Rolling
2. iPhone Most Popular Camera On Flickr, Can Cars Learn Something?
3. App Downloads Will Near 6Billion in 2010

“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. Where Do Kids Fit Into Telematics Strategies?

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]

Related posts:

1. Where Do Kids Fit Into Telematics Strategies?
2. Google Will Bring The Internet To You!
3. Rear-Seat Entertainment Sales to Double by 2015

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]

Related posts:

1. Ford Announces AppLink
2. Will Toyota’s Issues Shine Spotlight on All In-Car Electronics?
3. Spotlight: Kia Uvo

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]

Related posts:

1. Google Maps Navigation Will Change Mapping in 2010
2. Ford Sync Has The Lead, Will It Hold On To It?
3. Application Spotlight: AppSpace.com

Continental’s ‘Always On’ concept is built around allowing the user to interact with the vehicle through various ‘views’:

Mobile View

The user’s view from their mobile phone. A simple, intuitive text-based mobile interface that allows you to “text your car, and your car will text you back”.

Car View

The user’s view from the car. This is the primary feature area of AutoLinQ™. The CarView can include an in-vehicle display and compute platform, along witha pre-loaded Android™ application set.

Home View

The user’s view from the home (or office) computer. This feature includes a vehicle-hosted (or server-hosted) multimedia web portal that allows drivers to interact with their vehicles from the comfort of home or office. Functions supported in Home View include:

• Online vehicle status and information
• Vehicle security and control
• Driver-specific application selection and download to vehicle
• Driver-specific vehicle personalization
• Vehicle diagnostics and dealer access
• Online owner’s manuals
• Driver-specific vehicle restrictions and owner SMS notifications
• Enhanced trip planning and navigation
• Social networking
• Communication / Telephony / E-Mail
• …and more.

Partner View

This web site is the foundation of the AutoLinQ™ Partner View. Its all about fostering a community of partners and developers that thoughtfully and safely open the AutoLinQ™ platform to the imagination of the world. Here, we intend to freely distribute open source tools and APIs that simply extend existing Android™ frameworks and tools.

Continental’s approach here is to allow the user to interact with the vehicle through all the channels that most people use to access information now (i.e. phone and personal computer) and to customize each ‘view’ to make it appropriate for the platform.  In the car users will primarily interact with apps through hard buttons, voice controls and the navigation screen (as you’d expect).  The standard web view is, well, pretty standard and offers the greatest functionality (again as you’d expect).  The mobile approach of using primarily text messages to access information is an interesting one.

Users can query the vehicle to find it or open doors or find out if they left their lights on and the system will automatically alert the user of the alarm being triggered, over heating in the car, low battery and more.  Pretty extensive control for text messages which have generally suffered from a poor user experience (if the user has to memorize the proper commands then it wont work).

Continental looks to be integrating AutoLinQ with a broad range of vehicle systems including enough access to start the engine (and presumably touch other vital systems).  The system seems to have more vehicle integration than Sync’s system (which is great), but this also raises some questions about application quality and overall safety.  Continental says that only OEM-certified apps will be use able while driving and that they are working with developers and automakers to “verify a core set of applications to help ensure that the information brought into the car is integrated in a thoughtful, secure and safety-minded way.”  So, how difficult will it be for the average developer to create an application that can be used while driving?

It shouldn’t be any more difficult to get your app approved than it is currently for the Android Marketplace, but it’s hard to say because each OEM will have to come up with it’s own rules for approving apps and will provide users with a web portal tailored to their system.

Also, in an interesting twist, the Android OS is open source.  It is readily customizable and extendable which makes it extremely powerful.  In fact, Continental is leveraging that power to deliver a vehicle specific API for the OS (as part of an SDK) that will empower developers to create the vehicle specific applications that can take advantage of in-vehicle controls and voice commands.  That being said, I’d be very interested to know if Continental has any concerns with hackers and modified OS ROMs being loaded into the system (things that are perfectly legal and frequently done for Android smartphone users).

Ford Sync is going the same direction by providing an API, but the AutoLinQ system differs in a few distinct ways.  Sync uses the MS Auto OS, apps will be downloadable to smartphones of different types and most importantly there is no additional approval process for applications because the Sync framework’s Rules Engine is responsible for making sure a particular application doesn’t violate predetermined best practices.  Continental’s AutoLinQ is tied to Google’s Android OS (and that particular app marketplace) and apps will be downloadable directly to the system.  It will require that apps be approved by the Android Marketplace as well as whatever additional rules Continental or an OEM might impose.  This might be a slightly higher barrier to entry for app makers, but I believe that the increased integration gives the system and applications more power to create ground breaking applications.

Continental is working with NAVTEQ to leverage their Network for Developers for “quality data and services as well as access to an existing ecosystem for the development of relevant applications for AutoLinQ.  In addition to core applications such as navigation and search a half-dozen partners are also already working on early prototype applications combining vehicle and social information to create exciting new experiences.”  Open source communities are generally filled with rabid proponents of that technology and by using Android Continental automatically leverages an extensive networking of existing apps and developers looking to launch free and paid apps to the user community.

I really look forward to getting hands on with this system at some point.  The power of an open source operating system and a new API will make for previously unimagined applications.  I really want to see how the implementation is adapted for in-vehicle use and if it is powerful while remaining safe or if had to be watered down to keep distraction to a minimum.

The app is the future of the telematics system.  With Continental’s AutoLinQ, DENSO’s Blue Harmony, Ford’s Sync and more it’s clear that users will have numerous options to choose from.

Related posts:

1. The App is the Future of Telematics
2. Application Spotlight: AppSpace.com
3. Hacker Uses Telematics System for Revenge

In the April 2010 edition of Fast Company Anya Kamenetz talks about how technology is impacting childhood creativity and the way kids learn.  It’s a great read and you should definitely click through the link at the bottom, but first I want to talk about how this movement might impact the automotive world.

Generally the focus of all telematics except streaming video has been the driver.  The burgeoning in-vehicle app ecosystem is generally focused on enabling the driver to interact with their phone or apps in a safer way.  On the other hand, the primary consumers of rear seat entertainment are children.  As every OEM and Tier1 moves to implement some sort of advanced telematics technologies taking advantage of brought in or downloaded applications I’ve heard nothing about rear seat entertainment and how this movement towards open frameworks will impact and be impacted by the kids in the back seat.

American children now spend 7.5 hours a day absorbing and creating media — as much time as they spend in school. Even more remarkably, they multitask across screens to cram 11 hours of content into those 7.5 hours. More and more of these activities are happening on smartphones equipped with audio, video, SMS, and hundreds of thousands of apps.

I have to believe that RSE is a major opportunity for the new breed of app enabled infotainment systems.  Sure, kids in the back seat could use their phones as they normally do, but as with the rest of the equation, the OEMs will have to sweeten the deal.  For example, in the back seat, 2 larger touch screens connected to each other to allow connected gaming would no doubt be a huge hit for any family regularly driving around with 2 young ones in the back.  Hardware costs could be a concern, but aren’t modern minivans just rolling entertainment centers for kids?

Not only are kids absorbing media, but they are learning at the same time.  The article highlights children from ages as low as 3 that are using technology to improve learning.  For example, learning how to spell or do your multiplication tables from an iPhone app (come to think of it, I know a few adults that would benefit from a math and spelling refresher).  Though kids have traditionally consumed video from the RSE, there is a distinct difference between video and both game and learning apps (it should be noted that most learning apps are just games with a purpose…So kids are often learning without realizing it).

“You put a kid in front of a TV, they veg out,” says Andrew Shalit, creator of the First Words app and father of a toddler son. “With an iPhone app, the opposite is true. They’re figuring out puzzles, moving things around using fine motor skills…”

And this engagement is key both in keeping kids interested as well as convincing parents to adopt these technologies.

With the launch of the iPad this past weekend, Apple is targeting education (amongst other things) as a key market for the device.  Text book manufacturers have announced iPad versions of text books and schools have even announce ‘an iPad for every student.’

Advanced applications of mobile connectivity don’t just have to enable web browsing, Facebook, and email.  They can enable not only fun, but also educational.

via [fast company]

Related posts:

1. Rear-Seat Entertainment Sales to Double by 2015
2. Eric Schmidt Says, “Mobile Is The Future”
3. Pearl Mobile DTV Is A Big Deal For Mobile TV

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

How Do You Use Apps In The Car? – The iPhone App Store has over 100,000.  The Android Marketplace just reached 30,000 apps.  Billions of downloads have already been delivered to devices and the market grows every day.  Users everywhere are becoming accustomed to downloading and installing applications that extend the utility of their devices and the car is the next platform that will benefit from this explosion in applications.

The Dangers of GPS, ‘The Simpsons’-style – In this clip from a recent Simpsons episode, Homer drives the kids to school, but reminds us to never blindly follow anyone (especially a GPS).  Now, maybe if the system he used had real-time data connectivity (or if he had listened to Bart) Homer wouldn’t have ended up where he did…10 feet off the ground.

The Internet Radio Universe – Roger Lanctot offers a great overview of what internet radio is and isn’t. We know that in-car connectivity is on the rise and streaming music will be one of the major uses of that bandwidth.

The Mobile Web vs Apps vs Both – As the mobile web (i.e. sites specifically designed to be viewed on mobile devices) is being replaced by mobile apps and sites that are dual purpose (i.e. the standard site can be viewed reliably in a mobile browser) Google seems to think that developers should be leverage the mobile web to create cross platform applications.

Ford Sync Has The Lead, Will It Hold On To It? – As the mobile web (i.e. sites specifically designed to be viewed on mobile devices) is being replaced by mobile apps and sites that are dual purpose (i.e. the standard site can be viewed reliably in a mobile browser) Google seems to think that developers should be leverage the mobile web to create cross platform applications.

Related posts:

1. Ford Sync Has The Lead, Will It Hold On To It?
2. The Mobile Web vs Apps vs Both
3. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up

Roger Lanctot offers a great overview of what internet radio is and isn’t. We know that in-car connectivity is on the rise and streaming music will be one of the major uses of that bandwidth. Pandora seems to have the buzz right now, but it is not the only player.

The major music services are Slacker, Pandora, Rhapsody, Spotify, iTunes and Napster. The major programming guides are RadioTimes, Reciva, vTuner and Radio Locator. The available Internet radio stations include: iHeartradio, RadioParadise and a host of individual and bundled stations ultimately encompassing the entire 65K stations available worldwide. Mobile radio apps include Flycast, Stitcher, Radiolicious, and WunderRadio amidst a long and growing list.

Lanctot highlights RadioTime BMW/Mini’s choice for a way to organize the streaming experience (including FM radio).

It is still early days in the Internet radio and music service business as far as automotive and mobile app implementations are concerned but there are already dozens of mobile applications available for nearly every mobile platform. For music services the business model revolves around subscriptions, paid downloads and advertising. The business models range from free (often with advertising) to paid (without advertising) and include sales of music and other access privileges such as caching or “skipping” songs.

With all the options out there (and not just for internet radio) organizing all the content and making it readily accessible to end users will need to be figured out long term.  Normally I would consider this a particularly daunting task for the automotive industry (and it is), but the proliferation advanced platforms is shortening development cycles and app marketplaces will offer multiple solutions for end users to choose from (just like with the smartphone market).

Click through to Strategy Analytics for the full text of the article.

via [@rogermud] via [strategy analytics]

Related posts:

1. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up
2. RIM Buys QNX
3. App Downloads Will Near 6Billion in 2010

Using the vehicle’s OBDII data port and bluetooth connectivity Motoriety will collect vehicle information and deliver that information to a twitter feed, email address or web portal utilizing the users bluetooth connected cellphone for the data transfer pipe (a la Ford Sync, except Sync uses Airbiquity’s data over voice technology).

The site says a data plan is required for the emails or the data can be sent to a Twitter feed (which makes me think the system uses the SMS to Twitter feature to facilitate data delivery).  Using Twitter to deliver this data is a fairly ingenious implementation since it’s so readily accessible to all users through so many different portals (web, phone, etc).

The feature set is more extensive than I’d expect from a $200 plugin module, but it makes sense.  Since the OBDII port delivers comprehensive diagnostic data the Motoriety unit can take advantage of a lot of data (I don’t know if it’s exactly as much information as an embedded system like OnStar, but I’d bet it’s at least the majority of it) and Motolingo squeezes every last bit out of it. Highlights of the features include:

Aggressive Acceleration Detection
Records rapid accelerations and informs the driver with an audible chime and logs the event in the email report.

Drive Trip Records
Every time the vehicle is operated, the start and stop time along with distance traveled is logged and emailed.

Idle Monitoring
Idle time is calculated and provided in periodic email reports and can be used to reduce fueling costs.

High Speed Warnings
Prevent expensive speeding tickets and high speed crashes.

The system even has geofencing capabilities though it utilizes the smartphone GPS (the device itself doesn’t have one) for the location data.  It’s also worth noting that this is also an option

Overall I have to say I like the approach of this type of device.  OBDII is a standard and available on millions of cars.  Bluetooth is a standard and available on millions of phones.  Motolingo has just mated two readily available technologies and put a modern tech face on the whole thing (i.e. mobile access, web apps, etc).  Vehicle diagnostic data puts this above personal GPS trackers that offer many of the same trip and tracking features, but not detailed information about your car.  The use of Twitter is a great example of how a company can use publicly available services like Twitter to augment their own product without the cost and effort of developing from the ground up.

Between the plugin device and smartphone isn’t this essentially a model for what a modular / plug-n-play  / dealer installed system could be from a tier 1?  Updates shouldn’t be a concern because the OBDII standard isn’t changing, but adding new features might be a little tricky (maybe a built in USB port for v2?).

The biggest problem I see here is that the only smartphones supported right now are Windows Mobile (blech) and since the application needs to be always on (i.e. run in the background) the iPhone wont be supported until it supports multitasking.

If you’re a technophile driving a car without much tech then a plug-in system like this might be just the thing you need.

found via [cnet]

Related posts:

1. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up
2. Challenges with Telematics Adoption
3. Ford Sync Feature Spotlight: 911 Assist + Vehicle Health Reports

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]

Related posts:

1. Challenges with Telematics Adoption
2. LinkedIn Question: What’s driving the development of … infotainment systems?
3. The Mobile Web vs Apps vs Both

In particular, Carr talks about Gowalla and Foursquare, to location based ‘games’ that feature the ability to virtually ‘check-in’ at a location.  Awards and rewards are bestowed for completing certain achievements, like checking in at your local pub more often than anyone else.

I’m personally ‘Mayor’ of 3 or 4 locations I frequent near my house and with every check-in I get a little more addicted.  In the long run these types of apps will facilitate all manner of marketing and advertising, but they haven’t yet reached the critical mass necessary to really have an impact nationally.  That being said, at a tech heavy event like SXSW or DEMO I’m sure everybody and their mother was checking in at every hall, booth, sidewalk and party.

Carr even mentions that people could tell the SXSW keynote wasn’t doing well when people that had checked in to it started checking in elsewhere.  An interesting way gauge interest and traffic to be sure.

“The check-in is bigger than location,” said Yancey Strickler of Kickstarter, a Web site that helps with fund-raising for media products. “Think of media: Checking into watching ‘Lost,’ being declared the mayor of ‘The Brothers Karamazov’ or earning a badge for braving free jazz.”

What if a highly influential person suddenly became the mayor of your obscure little webcast, new book or you saw that your friends were checking in on a critically acclaimed but struggling new network show? Cue the lemmings and viral things might happen. For the time being, Foursquare and others limit check-ins to physical locations, but that could change.

It’s really an interesting concept and the badges being offered are already creative.  Extending the current location based concept to digital and virtual locations will probably happen organically as users evolve how the use applications (like with Twitter).

The car is an awesome opportunity for this kind of app.  Especially in a place like Los Angeles where mobility is essentially defined by your car integrating things like check-ins with incentives to visit particular locations sounds like a potential killer app for in-vehicle applications.  When it exists, I’ll do my best to avoid the ’stuck in traffic’ badge, but it seems inevitable.

Related posts:

1. Making Foursquare Work for Business. Could Dealerships Learn Something?
2. Twitter, Now With Geo-Location
3. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up

The number of apps available for the iPhone, Android OS and Blackberry is rapidly approach a combined 200,000. Wading through the sewage that constitute most apps to find that diamond in the rough can be a daunting task.  For some of us installing and deleting apps is a hobby, but most people don’t have the patience or desire to go through all that downloading and testing.

AppSpace.com is a recommendation engine for the app store of your choosing (WebOS is once again snubbed) and is intended to help you find just the right app for your needs.  By taking your indicated areas of interest and the apps you like and dislike (based on your ratings) AppSpace will recommend apps for you to try (along with the appropriate download links).

It’s a handy little system and while you’ll probably still have some trial and error in finding the perfect app for your tastes, AppSpace should definitely make the process easier.

The idea here is pretty straightforward even if the execution might not be.  The automotive industry will face a similar challenge.  As more and more apps become available for vehicle integration how will users sift through the thousands to find the ones that fit their desired experience the best?  Well, I’d bet that AppSpace will add some preference options for automotive apps (once the apps actually hit the market), but the providers will likely need to come up with their own ways to help the car buyer customize their experience effectively or less tech savvy users might be overwhelmed.

Ford Sync’s user-device-centric model may make it harder to recommend apps though I’d expect the respective app stores to create a category or tag (or the like) for automotive enabled apps.  Something more embedded in the vehicle like Continental’s AutoLinQ might offer greater opportunities for recommendations through the embedded system.  Either way, I believe that telematics offerings will need to support access to the respective app store in the vehicle and, in turn, will need to find creative ways to support the user experience (including OTA app downloads)

This video will do some explaining and you can click through to MakeUseOf for a writeup on the site and it’s features…

via [techtoliveby]

Related posts:

1. Smartphones and Embedded Systems
2. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up
3. Application Spotlight: Aha Mobile

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.

Related posts:

1. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up
2. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up
3. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up

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?

Related posts:

1. Application Spotlight: Waze
2. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up
3. Will Toyota’s Issues Shine Spotlight on All In-Car Electronics?

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]

Related posts:

1. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up
2. Application Spotlight: Aha Mobile
3. MyFord Touch Feature Spotlight: Navigation

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.

Related posts:

1. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up
2. Twitter, Now With Geo-Location
3. PopSci Takes Notice of a Telematics Trend

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.

Related posts:

1. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up
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
2. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up
3. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up

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]

Related posts:

1. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up
2. Spotlight: Mercedes mbrace Telematics System
3. Google Maps Navigation Will Change Mapping in 2010

To combat some parts of that equation and others Ford Sync has taken steps to secure data and minimize the damage that can be done through the connectivity of the system.

“Ford Motor Company delivers highly advanced technology and entertainment platforms that, just like a consumer’s laptop or smart phone, need to have security features built into it,” said Jim Buczkowski, director, Ford Electronics and Electrical Systems Engineering. “Consumers want and need to know that their personal or professional information in their vehicle is specific only to them.”

Recent industry data shows that more than 11 million people in the U.S. were victims of identity theft and fraudulent accounts in 2009 – with nearly a third of fraudulent accounts opened via mobile phone technology. As the use of smartphones escalates – with 174 million shipped globally in 2009 alone – concern over identity and information theft continues to rise.

SYNC Firewall – The Sync system default security is set to WiFi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) and anytime the system sees a new device try to connect that device has to be approved (basically it’s WiFi pairing).  This is fairly standard security but it will keep the rif-raf off of your mobile Wi-Fi connection.

Sync Phone Pairing Protection – Basically Ford is saying that because data is stored on the phone not in the Sync system the risk of your data being stolen from your vehicle…unless you leave your phone in your car.

Encrypted Jukebox – I have nothing good to say about this.  It’s just DRM.  Sorry Sync, usually I’m a fan.  It’s nice that I don’t have to worry about someone copying the music from my system, but if my car is broken into that is the least of my worries.  Is there a misconception that the reason people steal iPods is for the music on the device and not the device itself?  Anyway, sorry to go negative, lets move on…

“Home” Protection – Valet mode that locks people out from preprogrammed destinations until a PIN has been entered.  Again, not ground breaking, but definitely a useful security feature and specifically addresses one of the concerns I have about converged devices.

Engine Immobilizer – The car wont start without a key that also sends out a specific wireless signal.  Pretty basic, but Ford spices things up by saying, “There are 72 million-billion possible codes so every Ford vehicle sold worldwide for the next 10 billion years will come with a unique code.”

Securicode Keyless Entry – Leave your key in the car and hit a few keys on the door to unlock it from the outside.  I’m pretty sure my grandpa’s Mazda 626 had this feature.  Loved that car…

All-in-all, Ford is taking some of the necessary steps to secure the Sync system.  Nothing groundbreaking here though…

Full Press Release from Ford below.

FORD OFFERS SECURITY FEATURES TO PROTECT OWNERS’ PERSONAL INFORMATION

Related posts:

1. Ford Sync Feature Spotlight: WiFi And Mobile Hotspot In The Car
2. Ford Sync Feature Spotlight: 911 Assist + Vehicle Health Reports
3. Ford Sync Feature Spotlight: Service Delivery Network

It’s hard to overstate the power of the kind of customer connection TomTom achieved with the TomTom Live service.

…

TomTom was first in developing a connected user community willing to correct map data and POIs and share favorite routes and voices. These users also demonstrated that there was a market for content that could be downloaded to TomTom devices. Sound familiar? This is exactly the model adopted by most major handset makers in the past year following the wildly successful Apple iPhone.

This is a great point and highlights the value of what the smartphone app marketplace has achieved in recent years.  I’ve discussed how important the acceptance of applications will be to the future of telematics and to Roger’s point it will be just as important for the PND suppliers if they intend to continue selling hardware on top of licensing their existing software.

TomTom has already announced partnerships with Renault and Fiat to include some of their features in embedded OEM systems, but with powerful smartphones with built in connectivity it’s going to be difficult for PND manufacturers to grow the hardware side of the business in the long run.  It’s unlikely that the PND will return to the lofty levels of past years (when it was bridging the gap until smartphones hit their stride), but between potentially adopting open platforms and licensing software these companies should still have very viable futures.  It will be interesting to see how they adapt to the changing marketplace.

via [@rogermud] via [Strategy Analytics]

Related posts:

1. RIM Buys QNX
2. inTELEMATICStoday.com Weekly Round-Up
3. Smartphones and Embedded Systems