Cupertino tech titan Google and the multinational semiconductor manufacturer Qualcomm have joined hands to improve Android Auto, including and introducing the long demanded wireless mode.
At its 2014 I/O conference, Google announced the infotainment feature called Android Auto, which was launched in March 2015 and has been so far rolled out in 29 countries across the globe. Currently, an estimated 100 car models across 40 brands use Android Auto, and the Cupertino tech giant now plans to extend it to more cars, Tech Times reported.
Aside from the 11 countries where this feature was originally rolled out, Google has made Android Auto available in several other countries including Argentina, Venezuela, Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil, Peru, Chile, Paraguay, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, India, Panama, Costa Rica, Russia, Ecuador and Austria. Recently, the company mentioned in a tweet that the app will also be launched in Puerto Rico.
The app, Android Auto, displays useful information automatically, besides organizing them into simple cards. However, in order to use the features of the app, customers require a smartphone in their car.
"To use Android Auto, you need an Android Auto-compatible vehicle or aftermarket radio and an Android phone running 5.0 (Lollipop) or higher," Google said in a post, adding, "When you connect your Android phone to the compatible vehicle or radio, Android Auto will display applications on the vehicle's screen."
The partnership between Google and Qualcomm will, however, change all this as the two companies aim to embed this Android OS in the infotainment system of a car directly. The new program will enable car manufacturers to develop infotainment systems having Android as a common platform, thereby making it easier to link the car with other services and applications.
At the 2016 I/O conference, Google also showcased a car that operated on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 Automotive processor by connecting the chipset to the infotainment system of the vehicle. In fact, Google showcased a Maserati with the model infotainment system through Android Auto. The car possessed a large 4K touchscreen instead of the regular console and an additional 720p display positioned where one usually finds the speedometer.
In fact, the new platform will significantly help reduce software development time for system integrators, developers as well as OEMs. Google's Android engineering director Patrick Brady said that the collaboration with Qualcomm will be helpful in developing potent car infotainment systems meant for this digital age.
Watch the Android Auto review below:
