Already half of Pandora mobile users listen to the streaming internet radio service in the car via their mobile phones, according to the company chief technology officer Tom Conrad. And that's not too appealing from a safety standpoint.So what's the next logical step? To build Pandora into vehicles, and Ford could very well be the first automaker to do exactly that.
Speaking at the SF Music Summit, Conrad said that new cars will have Pandora built in within a few years, and it will be "bundled with either the price of the car or services associated with the car."
Sounds like satellite radio to me. And in fact, it was just over a year ago when Pandora's CEO Tim Westergren (pictured above) said that he was setting his sights on satellite radio. Guess what? They're doing exactly that.
And Pandora isn't wasting any time. The company is working with automakers, including through an existing deal with Ford, to build in-dash controls that will allow drivers to use Pandora without needing to interface with their phones, said Conrad.
It's a "tethered handset" model that will include physically secured mobile devices that are connected to the car's sound system - most likely using Bluetooth or another technology.
If I was to guess - and this is hardly a stretch to consider - but the Ford Sync system seems like a perfect fit for Pandora. Any one want to make a wager?
[GigaOM via Engadget]
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Sounds like satellite radio to me. And in fact, it was just over a year ago when Pandora's CEO Tim Westergren (pictured above) said that he was setting his sights on satellite radio. Guess what? They're doing exactly that.
And Pandora isn't wasting any time. The company is working with automakers, including through an existing deal with Ford, to build in-dash controls that will allow drivers to use Pandora without needing to interface with their phones, said Conrad.
It's a "tethered handset" model that will include physically secured mobile devices that are connected to the car's sound system - most likely using Bluetooth or another technology.
If I was to guess - and this is hardly a stretch to consider - but the Ford Sync system seems like a perfect fit for Pandora. Any one want to make a wager?
[GigaOM via Engadget]
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Check out a recent interview with Tim Westergren where we spoke about the future of Pandora among other things... http://www.simplysyndicated.com/mon_2_17/
LOL Within a few years? What, 5 or 6? A tethered handset? What the? That's OEM???
This is one of the funniest posts I ever read. LOL Where is the revenue share Ryan?
Hey Ryan - Which do you think will make more revenue for the car manufacturers - Free HD radio or Free Pandora?
Those car manufacturers must be salivating to rake in those big revenue shares of nothingness! LOL
Pandora will get taken to the tool shed because siri/xm will be available everywhere k ,and I mean everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think this is great! I use both Pandora and Slacker and have been waiting to read an article about this. I prefer Slacker over Pandora, but either to SXM and their musical selections. And there is one place where SXM isn't and that was at the LA Auto Show. I just came back from it and there was absolutely no presence there. SXM who?
Oh yes, The commercial filled Pandora. The service that lets you listen to a couple of favorites then blasts you with no named bands , then won't let you skip them. Just what I want to listen to. Oh have you heard...AT&T is charging more for Pandora streaming. You can't win, Jump from cell tower to cell tower, lose your signal a few times, pay out the butt for streaming on your phone lame no named bands, Hey Sirius XM sounds better all the time. This could end up helping more than hurting.
What a bunch of narrow-minded people.... They aren't trying to really make money off of adding Pandora. They understand customer demand and how technology helps sells cars. Customers enjoy their Pandora, if Ford can make it easy for you to use Pandora in your car, you'll find their cars more appealing. There may be some back-end negotiations between Pandora and Ford for residuals, but the point is to make Ford's vehicles more appealing.
What a flop pandora will be. Sirius will buy them in 2 years for $1 and then shut it down.