smartphone apps in cars

It is all happening like I said it would.

A while back I stated to some friends numerous times that car stereo makers, and even car manufacturers themselves would soon be putting mini-PC’s in cars and that stereos would soon become standard with USB ports to upload music and info into the cars.  While the USB part has not caught on like I thought It would, several manufacturers are producing application- friendly cars.  Nissan, GM and ford are creating cars that are smartphone app friendly, giving cars the potential to run apps and communicate with smartphones.  Another brave example of how technology is taking over rapidly.

This started on Oct. 28 when OnStar used an application that allowed users to unlock their cars, check their tire pressures, and even start the vehicle with their phones.  The App runs on the Iphone and the droid and will soon be available to more than 20 new vehicles.  Manufacturers are now working on technologies that will allow cars to run apps, communicate through the phones, and even download music, videos and applications through wireless connections.  Alpine entertainment and other car accessory companies are also looking in to the new possibilities.

A global consultant is predicting a rise to 28 million people globally who use Automotive apps in 2015, a rise from 1.4 million in 2010.  This would provide a vast market for this new technology.  Even more interesting Is that some cars will be equipped with in-dash Pandora, the popular internet radio that has caught on like wildfire.  Another interesting piece of technology will provide provides streaming audio versions of Facebook news feeds, short blogs from Twitter, national news updates, and traffic reports.  This will presumably be available in 2011.

One overlying concern with this new technology is the safety aspect.  Whether or not these new technologies can be used safely while operating a vehicle is still suspect and the fact that if a driver has a wreck while looking at an App, the manufacturer can be held responsible for the accident.  This has hindered some of the production.  However, the practice director at Nissan believes that these apps will one day be the standard option in all cars, and I cannot see how they will not and look forward to the new possibilities.