Hyundai/Kia teams up with Microsoft on in-car infortainment
Ford won't be the only automaker in the U.S. to have Microsoft technology underhood for long, as Hyundai has hooked up with the software giant on new infotainment technology partnership. The first new jointly produced system will provide voice-controlled connectivity between mobile devices for Hyundai and Kia vehicles beginning in 2010. Microsoft will also work with Korea's Institute for IT Advancement to open an Automotive IT Innovation Centre in Seoul. The Korean auto giant will partner with Microsoft on auto telecommunication, telematics, navigation systems, and improving Human Machine Interface technology.
Recent developments in automotive technology show that infotainment tech like Ford's SYNC and BMW's in-car Internet systems are hot. Microsoft appears to be capitalizing on the new trend by netting a second automotive partner, while Hyundai gets the new interactive tech that customers are craving. If its cars are anything to go by, Hyundai's version of the technology will probably cost less and do more.
[Source: Hyundai]
PRESS RELEASE:
Following the agreement between Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group (HKAG) and Microsoft Corp. to develop the next generation of in-car infotainment systems, both companies have joined forces with Korea's Institute for IT Advancement to open a dedicated Automotive IT Innovation Centre (AIIC).
The AIIC will be located within HKAG's new research facilities in Uiwang City, south of Seoul. HKAG and Microsoft will use the AIIC to develop new technology such as auto telecommunication, telematics, navigation systems and Location Based Service (LBS), and improving Human Machine Interface (HMI), all of which will be uncovered in the near future.
The first product, developed at the new centre, will provide voice-controlled connectivity between mobile devices, and will be launched into the North American Market in 2010, soon followed by the Asian and European Markets. The infotainment systems will allow consumers to enjoy music in various digital formats.
Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft said of the collaboration with HKAG; "Microsoft and Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group share a similar vision for the role that information technology will play in connecting people to information, communications, and entertainment while they are in their cars.
"We're excited by the opportunities this new Automotive IT Innovation Centre will create for Microsoft, Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, and Institute for Information Technology to continue to work together to develop new innovations that will make the time that people spend in their cars more productive and enjoyable than ever before." he added.
Kia Motors has also announced that it is a global sponsor of RoboChamps 2008, Microsoft's virtual-world robotics competition. For more information on RoboChamps, please visit www.robochamps.com.
For now we will have to sit tight, and wait patiently until the next generation of in-car infotainment systems are launched!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sid 9:03AM (11/04/2008)
Dem rims are PIMP :P
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Dean 9:06AM (11/04/2008)
Since when has adding a Microsoft product helped, or improved anything? Too bad carmakers (as well as everyone else) haven't realized that Macs are the way to go.
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waiownsyou 9:16AM (11/04/2008)
Yes, because we all want those iPod scrollwheels as the steering wheels.
Dean 9:27AM (11/04/2008)
Right, and having your Microsoft based car crash every hour is better how?
homunculus 9:59AM (11/04/2008)
didn't microsoft develop sync, which is quite good i hear.
Shawn 11:05AM (11/04/2008)
Of course the Mac version will be twice as expensive, forces you to download Quicktime, and can only be serviced at the Apple store. But it is awesome if you have to do photoshop in your car.
Dean 11:19AM (11/04/2008)
Yes, it would be more expensive, but you'd be getting a platform that is more reliable, and stable. You wouldn't be continually be prompted to download some sort of software, or security patch every other week, and if you really wanted to, you could run a dual platform, running Mac, and Windows - and here's the great part about it, Windows running on a Mac would perform better, and more reliably on the Mac. By the way, would you really want to take your car to a Best Buy, where undoubtably they have the best, most well trained staff working on your system? (yes, there is a bit of sarcasm there)
geo.stewart 11:20AM (11/04/2008)
considering MS invested in Apple to help keep it afloat, AND that MS is the reason that the PC market has progressed as it has, I find it funny how many are quick to bash them.
I'm not a diehard fan by any stretch but if MS was not as dominant as it was, the PC and Internet world would be about as disjointed as the US cellular market.
Recognize the achievements and give credit where credit is due.
Joshua 11:20AM (11/04/2008)
whether automobile manufacturers favour microsoft or apple, microsoft seems to be more aggressive about in-car computers so it is an attractive option for automobile manufacturers and only makes sense financially.
technically speaking, you can't honestly believe that "macs are the way to go". nothing is perfect and apple is no exception. their software and hardware are just as flawed as microsoft's, only not always in the same ways. all you have to do is look in apple forums to see that apple hardware and software users have annoying/bizarre/dumb issues just like microsoft's.
personally, i like bmw's initiative to work with other automobile companies to develop a standard, linux-based platform. correct me if i'm wrong, but i don't think microsoft is looking to standardize in such a way.
ItGuy 12:12PM (11/04/2008)
"considering MS invested in Apple to help keep it afloat, AND that MS is the reason that the PC market has progressed as it has, I find it funny how many are quick to bash them."
They did that at the height of their Antitrust suit. More to keep them out of hot water with the US government.
And we won't discuss how MS killed BE, the makers of BeOS.
"I'm not a diehard fan by any stretch but if MS was not as dominant as it was, the PC and Internet world would be about as disjointed as the US cellular market."
Puhlease. I'm in IT and we've been standardized before MS:
Wordperfect was the business standard
123 was the business standard
Harvard Graphics was the business standard
Novell was the networking standard
We'd have gotten along just fine without MS. And we'll get along just fine without them. All giants fall at some point,
Kitko 9:09AM (11/04/2008)
That means three more buttons on a dashboard
CTRL-ALT-DEL
I just hope they reinforce starter to handle more restarts.
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Avinash machado 9:28AM (11/04/2008)
From gcfl.com
Microsoft Announces Car
The major design criteria are:
1. Economies in interior design are based upon uniform size. Seats are all the same size and a standard distance from the steering wheel
2. The cars will run only on Microsoft petrol. (Microsoft LP Gas will be announced soon.)
3. The oil, alternator, low-fuel, and engine management system warning lights will be replaced by a single "General Car Protection Fault" warning light.
4. Delivery strategy is such that the consumer is under constant pressure to upgrade (modestly priced "upgrade" kits will be available either dealer-fitted or self-install). Support for self-install is an extra cost option. The cost is based upon the number of calls and the number of callers.
5. You can have only one person in the car at a time, unless you buy CarXP or CarVista, but having bought one of these, you still need to purchase more seats.
6. Occasionally, for no reason at all, the car will die for no apparent reason, and restarting is a simple turn of the key ... strangely, this is accepted as normal.
7. Every time the lines on your normal road are repainted, you must buy a new MS Car.
8. People would get excited about the new features of the Microsoft car, forgetting that the same features have been available from other car makers for years.
And not to forget:
9. Sun MicroSystems will make a car that is solar-powered, twice as reliable, and five times as fast, but will run on only 5 percent of currently constructed roads.
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Kitko 9:40AM (11/04/2008)
All OK, only I'd replace Sun with Mac... :-)
LJKelley 3:00PM (11/04/2008)
This is kinda old an antiquated now. And I've had both Java and OS X crash on me.
But on point #1, I don't see how that translates as Windows is extremely customizable. I don't recall this in the original joke (I have printed out when GM made it) as well it has different version depending your need (appearently in cars this is good, but Mac fanbois will say this is bad to have choices and prices based on your needs).
#2 This was originally that the Windows car would only run on Microsoft Roads...
But most of this is just tired stuff. I have run both Linux, Windows, and OS X and none of them are 'lightyears' ahead of each other.
In regards to Microsoft and Cars... well Sync appearently works really well so why not. And its not like its controlling your engine or that anyone of you would buy a Hyundai or Kia either.
Mobius_1 10:13AM (11/04/2008)
Wow, even cars are gonna be having random BSODs from now on...
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Dean 10:56AM (11/04/2008)
Wow - Good catch Mobius, the Blue Screen of Death hadn't even crossed my mind until this point! What happens if the car starts up in safe mode with the limited functions, and large fonts, in 16 bit color?
BigWill 10:50AM (11/04/2008)
Hyundai + Sync = Hync?
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Judy Zik 10:56AM (11/04/2008)
The Kia version will be the adults only Kync.
Torrent 10:59AM (11/04/2008)
That would be sick if GM teamed up with Sony
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ConceptVBS 12:15PM (11/04/2008)
GM is american, Sony is japanese, not gonna work.