Microsoft and Hyundai-Kia sign long term agreement
Hyundai-Kia and Microsoft to Develop Next Gen In-Car Infotainment
In-car mini-PC
May 8, 2008 2:42 PM by Frank de Leeuw van Weenen Filed Under: Hyundai
If you thought that USB connectivity in your car audio system was high-tech you will be happy to hear that Microsoft and Hyundia-Kia Automotive Group will work together to develop a next generation in-car infotainment system. Ford offers Sync, Chrysler has MyGig, iDrive can be found in BMWs and Fiat has Blue&Me on offer and by 2010 Hyundai and Kia will join the fray.
Microsoft and HKAG have been working together since 2006, but now the cooperation will take on a more serious form. A few days ago Bill Gates traveled to Korea to witness the signing a long-term agreement with Hyundai-Kia.
"These new systems will redefine consumer experiences in the car. We're now aligned to develop the next generation of in-car infotainment systems." said Martin Thall, GM of Microsoft's Automotive Business Unit.
The first fruits of the cooperative labor will manifest itself in 2010 in the US market. By that time Hyundai-Kia hopes to launch their next-generation infotainment system with voice-controlled connectivity between mobile devices. Following the US market, the next gen infotainment system will make its way to Europe and Asia and expand into multimedia and navigation devises.
Microsoft and Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group to Develop Next Generation of In-Car Infotainment
New partnership will globalize innovative in-car infotainment.
Today, Microsoft Corp. and Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group (HKAG) entered into a long-term agreement to co-develop the next generation of in-car infotainment systems. Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, and Mongku Chung, chairman of HKAG, were present as Martin Thall, general manager of Microsoft's Automotive Business Unit, and Hyun Soon Lee, president and chief technology officer of HKAG, signed the agreement in Seoul.
Together, Microsoft and HKAG will deliver new and innovative solutions based on the Microsoft Auto software platform, bringing the future of in-car technology to Hyundai-Kia drivers worldwide.
"These new systems will redefine consumer experiences in the car," Thall said. "Since the spring of 2006, HKAG and Microsoft have been sharing their vision for the future of in-car technology. We're now aligned to develop the next generation of in-car infotainment systems."
"We are pleased to partner with Microsoft to deliver high-performance infotainment solutions to our customers," Lee said. "The advanced capabilities, flexibility and low price point make the Microsoft Auto software platform an attractive solution for us."
The first product, a next-generation infotainment system that provides voice-controlled connectivity between mobile devices, will be introduced in the North American market in 2010. It will further apply to Asian and European markets, and expand into multimedia and navigation devices. These easy-to-use infotainment systems will allow consumers to enjoy music in various digital formats.
The next-generation infotainment systems are comparable to mini-PCs. Even after product launch, new functions can be added or upgraded in the form of software program updates, an innovation to existing in-car multimedia technology.
The Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group's adoption of the Microsoft Auto software platform increases Microsoft's presence in the Asian car market and enhances the global automotive business. The engineering and marketing teams of Microsoft's Automotive Business Unit in Redmond, Wash., will be working directly with counterparts at HKAG in Seoul to support this goal. Microsoft Auto-powered systems are currently available in Fiat Auto Group vehicles in Europe and South America and Ford Motor Co. vehicles in North America.
In a related announcement, Microsoft and Hyundai-Kia, along with the Institute for Information Technology Advancement (IITA), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to co-establish an automotive IT innovation center with the goal of promoting innovation and opportunities for Korean software and device vendors in the global market.
Linux user humm i thought they were just myths lol Microsoft/Apple user and a Hyundai lover/admirer.. way to go guys i would love it if toyota gets its a** handed to them by hyundai in the newr Future!!..that will teach to design cars like the new Carola.. go hyundai
nothing for me: i'm an apple-user! *lol* :D