Your next car could well be an Android one. What that means is Android could be the standard system powering a car’s entertainment and navigation features in a pioneering market move—if it materialises, that is. Google and Apple are looking at integrating their technology with cars’ design and manufacturing.
According to agency reports, it would allow drivers to use the benefits of the internet without having to plugging in to their smartphones. Google already has an Android Auto software but that requires a phone to be plugged in to a car that is compatible with the system and has a built-in screen that allows drivers to access GPS, maps, streaming music, weather, and a host of other applications. Apple has CarPlay software which allows devices running the iOS operating system to function with built-in display units of automobile dashboards. Android Auto and Apple’s CarPlay both “project” their smartphone apps onto the car’s screen but Google’s could be the first to be integrated into the car’s production process. Google has not provided a timeframe for its plan to put Android Auto directly into cars. Reuters says it is waiting for the next version of its operating system, Android M, expected to debut in 2015. By building Android into a car, Google’s services would not be at risk of switching off when a smartphone battery runs out of power. The only issue is whether automakers will be willing to dilute their own brand appeal and share it with Google.
