Volvo Car Group has announced that it will join forces with Apple Inc. to make Apple’s operating system available to drivers. The alliance is an attempt made by the car manufacturer to transform the in-car experience.
Called Apple CarPlay, the new service brings all the features and services of an iPad, iPhone or iPod directly into the car via Volvo Cars’ centre console touch screen display.
Volvo Cars enhances Apple’s capabilities by linking them to a specially-developed interface that allows drivers to use voice and steering wheel controls to access Apple features and services, ensuring the entire interaction is always safe and easy to use.
The company claims that the interaction between Apple’s operating system and Volvo Cars’ newly-designed in car software and interface will transform the look and feel of a car’s interior. Volvo Cars’ interiors will be characterised by their simplicity and functionality, two qualities that unite both – Volvo Cars and Apple.
Expressing his views on the collaboration, Håkan Samuelsson, President and CEO of Volvo Cars said, “Apple’s clean and intuitive user interface is a perfect match with Volvo’s Scandinavian Design approach and our focus on fluid functionality.”
The first car to offer Apple CarPlay will be the new XC90 SUV which will be introduced later in 2014.
With Apple CarPlay, users will immediately recognise their basic iPhone applications, such as phone, messages, music and navigation. The initial offer also features third party audio apps including Spotify, the popular music streaming service.
Volvo Cars’ portrait screen gives users the benefit of having both Volvo Cars and Apple content co-existing simultaneously, removing the need to switch between a dedicated car and iPhone screen.
“iPhone users will feel completely at home in a new Volvo. We have created a wholly-integrated user experience in our large portrait-oriented touch screen that takes the in-car mobile device experience to a new level. That, coupled with the obvious driver safety benefits of an advanced voice control system like Siri, made Apple a perfect match for Volvo,” Håkan Samuelsson further added.
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