2010 CES: Download Android apps to your car

Consumer Reports News: January 07, 2010 09:59 AM

Automotive industry supplier Continental Corporation announced a new hardware and software platform they say will soon safely provide motorists with new levels of connectivity and convenience on the road.

While still in the development stage, the plan is that AutolinQ wil allow Android phone users to download apps directly to their vehicles, and monitor everything from the locations of their friends on social networking sites to when their car is due for an oil change. A mobile view will let them check on their vehicles, remotely lock and unlock, and change certain settings from their mobile device or PC.

Continental chose CES as the place to show AutolinQ to automakers and application developers, because their plan is to create a new business model that will allow third-party developers to write and certify applications that will seamlessly, safely, and securely be brought into the car. They plan to make a software development kit available in the first quarter of 2010, with an app store to follow later in the year.

Initially, the intention is for Continental to develop a core group of useful apps, with the sky being the limit once developers get into the act. A key goal is to make sure apps are easy to use and enable a driver to stay focused on the road.

Work is underway on these core apps, which include one to navigate to addresses, points of interest, or even to friends on social networking sites. Another in development will be triggered automatically when fuel level drops to a certain level, and then search for local gas stations, provide prices, and navigational guidance to get fueled up.

What sort of apps would you like to see?

—Jim Travers

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