Microsoft and Hyundai partner for in-car infotainment
Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Tags: Ford, Ford SYNC, Hyundai, Infotainment, Microsoft, The Competition
Microsoft Corp. and Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group have partnered together to build a music and information system to rival Ford Motor Co.'s SYNC system. The system is set to debut in cars sold in North America in 2010.Hyundai is the first major Asian automaker to commit to using the Microsoft Auto platform with the goal of bringing these systems worldwide.
The infotainment systems will be a voice-controlled interface linking mobile devices to car stereo systems, with the ability for new functionality through software updates via the USB port - much like Ford SYNC. Later versions are expected to include multimedia and navigation-related features, said Microsoft/Hyundai.
Hyundai-Kia will first introduce vehicles in North America in 2010 and expand to the Asian and European regions shortly afterwards.
As I predicted, this is only the beginning. The product deal marks a win for Microsoft and you can bet that we will see more of these partnerships with other automakers in the future. Microsoft Auto systems - which are essentially mini-PCs - are currently available in Fiat in Europe and South America, and in Ford in North America.
With automakers like BMW and Chrysler working to bring Internet access to vehicles, the market for car-based information and data systems is expected grow rapidly in coming years, and Microsoft plans to be part of this movement.
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Comments
I was liking what I saw from Hyundai and now (like Ford) they will be off my list. I don't want Microsoft ANYWHERE, let alone my car. This is just bad.
Posted by: Anonymous Coward | May 7, 2008 12:30 PM
OMG...OMG... SATRAD is DOOMED... DOOMED do you hear me!!!!
Hey WTF ...maybe the FCC will have rendered a decision by 2010?
----
The take away..... While the IPOD, HD, and /or Microsoft PC and deliver content, they fail to have extensive entertainment content that is located via one source, or commercial free. A collective source of diverse audible entertainment will always have value.
I have 72K shares of Sirius and I'm holding it.... holding it past merger and well into 2015.
There are a potential 60 million subs out there in the near term. With the merger, the break even will occur yet in 2008 or early 2009. With 62% of sales being thrown to the bottom line, you do the math from here (18 million) to 60 million subs even without a share buy back (which is inevitable) with 3.0 billion shares soon to be outstanding.
I hate to be serious for such a long time, so time to go, but know where Plowboy stands since 2001 and will stand in 2015.
Posted by: Plowboy | May 7, 2008 12:56 PM
At what point does investment become gambling?
Posted by: Anonymous Coward | May 7, 2008 1:07 PM
I know a Business that went back to 2 way radio because of cell phones are always in dead spots.
Do people want all this talk to your car and your car talks to you stuff?
Posted by: Anonymous Coward | May 7, 2008 2:16 PM
What, no HD Radio! Oh, that's right - Hyundai tried it and now they only offer it in one model.
Posted by: PocketRadio | May 7, 2008 2:18 PM
Monopoly, sure
Posted by: waitwhat | May 7, 2008 2:59 PM
Plowboy: "I have 72K shares of Sirius and I'm holding it...."
Who was it that said "There's a sucker born every minute"
..... oh yea, Barnum & Bailey.
AC: "At what point does investment become gambling?"
Anyone holding SatRad stocks since '05 have been gambling....and losing. Unless they merge, they will remain a losing gamble for quite some time.
Posted by: Anonymous Coward | May 7, 2008 4:02 PM
AC: at what point did investing become something other than gambling?
Posted by: dumpus | May 7, 2008 4:30 PM
AC: Anytime you invest in a security that isn't backed by the gov't, you're gambling. Even gov't backed securities leave you with a gamble though...you invest in a CD, T-bill, etc. you hoe the rates don't go up while you're still locked in.
PB: 72,000 of Sirius? That's worth, what, $5.73 total? lol
Posted by: allforadeuce | May 8, 2008 4:53 AM