Rush to launch smartphone telematics applications

The number of global users of telematics smartphone applications will increase from 3.2 million in 2011 to 129 million in 2016, with North America as the dominant region, according to the latest ABI Research forecasts. Practice director Dominique Bonte comments: “The integration of smartphones and smartphone applications into vehicles represents nothing less than a renaissance of the interest in both consumer and commercial telematics markets. Car OEMs, automotive Tier Ones, telematics service providers and
May 16, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
RSSThe number of global users of telematics smartphone applications will increase from 3.2 million in 2011 to 129 million in 2016, with North America as the dominant region, according to the latest 5725 ABI Research forecasts.

Practice director Dominique Bonte comments: “The integration of smartphones and smartphone applications into vehicles represents nothing less than a renaissance of the interest in both consumer and commercial telematics markets. Car OEMs, automotive Tier Ones, telematics service providers and independent system and software developers are rushing to launch smartphone applications, with new solutions being announced almost on a daily basis. The dynamics of the smartphone and application store revolution are now spilling over into the automotive industry.”

Telematics smartphone applications appear across many categories including infotainment (music streaming), remote control (door unlock), remote diagnostics (battery status), eCall & bCall, virtual dashboards, driver behaviour monitoring, advanced navigation, and even social media applications (Facebook and Twitter updates). They take the form of both standalone apps connected to the vehicle OBD-II bus, and apps operating in conjunction with embedded telematics and infotainment systems.

However, issues remain. The most important one is safety: the in-car use of smartphone apps increases drivers’ distraction. While 493 Apple’s iPod Out and 183 Nokia’s Terminal Mode allow users to control and display phone apps using in-car controls and displays, the end-to-end control over HMI design is relinquished by car OEMs to third party developers. Some OEMs are considering launching their own application stores and/or certification processes.

Finally, telematics smartphone applications constitute something of a double-edged sword for car OEMs, allowing them to bring cheap connectivity and innovative features to the market quickly but at the same time forcing them to hand over lucrative business opportunities to the mobile industry, as well as compromising on quality and safety.

ABI Research’s new ‘Telematics Smartphone Applications’ study covers the different types of telematics smartphone application (standalone, hybrid, embedded), drivers and barriers, main players and solutions, as well as user interface and safety issues. It includes detailed subscriber and revenue forecasts.
Networking & Communication Systems

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Development of cooperative driving applications for work zones
    July 17, 2012
    The German AKTIV project is researching several cooperative driving applications for use in work zones. PTV's Michael Ortgiese details progress. The steep increases in traffic volumes predicted back in the early 1990s have unfortunately been proven to be more than accurate. In Germany, the AKTIV project continues to look into cooperative technologies' potential to reduce the impact of those increased traffic volumes and keep traffic moving despite limitations in infrastructure capacity.
    Read More
  • Connected Car offers plug-and-play remote vehicle access
    March 1, 2013
    Connected Car, Delphi’s plug-and-play connectivity device, connects into an OBDII port on any vehicle sold in the US from 1996 onwards and allows consumers to quickly lock and unlock their vehicle’s doors, as well as locate, track and even monitor their vehicles through a smartphone app or the internet. Delphi has teamed up with Verizon Wireless to ensure data transmitted through the device and via the internet remains secure and encrypted, allowing users to safely lock their vehicles remotely, track their
    Read More
  • Growing traditional and P2P car sharing services key to future of urban mobility in Europe – web conference
    July 5, 2012
    New research by Frost & Sullivan reveals that there were more than 0.7 million members in Europe alone who adopted car sharing as a sustainable transport solution for daily travelling at the end of 2011. Car OEMs as well as transport operators have started to get active in this market, increasing competition for already existing market players.
    Read More
  • Navfree hits 5.5 million mobile GPS navigation users
    March 22, 2012
    Navfree has announced it has reached its goal of building a 5.5 million global strong GPS navigation user base, to rival Nokia’s GPS navigation. Navmii, which launched the application two years ago, claimes it is now the number one mobile GPS navigation app in nine countries, and it is growing by 500,000 new users per month on iPhone and Android.
    Read More

Highlighted Content