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Telecommunications equipment industry

Integrated Smartphones Coming to Cars via MirrorLink

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Toyota iQ city car is set to be the first model to feature a fully integrated smartphone system, called Touch Life, which mirrors the display and applications of the driver's smartphone onto the car's in-dash screen. This new system, developed by the Car Connectivity Consortium, will allow drivers to access the internet, satellite navigation, weather, news, video, and music on their car's dashboard. The consortium, made up of several major car manufacturers and electronics producers, aims to bring smartphone technology into the car, making it easier for drivers to stay connected on the go.

Key Takeaways:

  • Toyota is the first company to use the MirrorLink system, which has been developed by the Car Connectivity Consortium.
  • The system, called Touch Life, will initially be available on the iQ city car in Europe, but is expected to be rolled out across Toyota's range in the near future.
  • Touch Life mirrors the smartphone's display on to the colour screen in the dash, allowing drivers to control their phone from buttons on the steering wheel or the car's central touchscreen.
  • The Car Connectivity Consortium is working to overcome the industry's difficulty in integrating smartphones into in-car infotainment systems.
  • Car manufacturers, such as Toyota, Volkswagen, and General Motors, are working alongside electronics producers, like Samsung and Sony, to develop the MirrorLink system.
  • The challenge for car companies is to integrate smartphone technology into cars without distracting the driver.
  • BMW's Konrad Hubner acknowledges that car companies are slower to adopt new technology than smartphone developers, but is confident that more smartphone functionality will be added to cars in the future.

Statistics:

  • 7-inch touchscreen display in the Toyota iQ city car's infotainment system
  • 10 car manufacturers (Toyota, Volkswagen, General Motors, Hyundai, Honda, Daimler, PSA, BMW, Kia, (no mention of number), and one electronics producer missing in source,group)
  • 8 electronics producers (Samsung, Sony, LG, Nokia, HTC, Panasonic, Garmin, and Motorola) involved in the consortium
  • The MirrorLink system will initially be available only on the Toyota iQ city car in Europe

Sources:

  • Toyota press release (no date provided)
  • Car Connectivity Consortium (no date provided)
  • BMW (no date provided)

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