Consumer Electronics Show (CES) — Attendees are getting their first, up-close look at the ng Connect LTE Connected Car, a concept vehicle that shows off 4G/LTE technology and its future inside our cars.
The car offers a wide range of navigation, personal security, entertainment and infotainment services to both drivers and passengers alike, according to ng Connect. It also represents what some are calling an exciting new potential revenue opportunity for network operators, automotive suppliers and application providers, and sets the stage to usher in a new era of richer and personalized in-car experiences.
Alcatel-Lucent, Atlantic Records, QNX Software Systems, Toyota Motor Sales, chumby and Kabillion partnered on the development the LTE Connected Car project.
The car concept offers independently operated touchscreens coupled with innovative software which provide access to multiple applications and forms of content. The prototype system supports the creation of personalized and interactive connected experiences that can be tailored to the individual preferences and requirements of both drivers and passengers. It takes the mobile device beyond just phones and music players.
Among the future-generation features in the concept car are:
- Video on demand – an endless catalog of video content, including movies, recorded TV programs and user-generated content. New content can also be easily rented or purchased in-car for media playback there or paused and finished at home.
- Gaming – multi-player games played within the vehicle, in other cars or with players anywhere in the world.
- Audio Library – no longer bound to just CDs, the radio or portable music players - an endless music catalog is accessible from the cloud.
- Home control – direct connection from the concept car to home automation and security systems to manage climate control systems, lighting, etc. or monitor home or business IP security cameras with streaming video feeds.
- Enhanced communications services – calls and messaging services with a hands-free experience and access to social networks available to anyone in the car.
- eCommerce – Web browsing and access to one of the concept’s many apps to buy right from the car.
- Wi-Fi hotspot –in-car Wi-Fi network for full utilization of all Wi-Fi enabled in-car devices and connectivity to the cloud via LTE.
- Advanced Navigation - the convenience of immediate, real-time GPS updates with point-of-interest overlay and integrated location-based services.