Nissan taps Airbiquity for cloud-connected cars

Japanese automobile manufacturer Nissan announced Thursday that it has begun rolling out its NissanConnect Apps service globally, a connected car platform based on Airbiquity’s smartphone app integration tools and its private cloud solution.

Airbiquity’s smartphone app integration platform links vehicles to a range of mobile applications and cloud-based services delivered via Airbiquity’s private cloud platform, delivering third party applications like Yelp and Trip Advisor in addition to popular infotainment applications.

Drivers will be able to download the apps to their smartphones and tether them to select Nissan vehicles via Bluetooth or USB using the Airbiquity platform, with support being built in for a range of popular music, social media and navigation apps.

“Consumer expectations regarding smartphones, apps, services and cloud content being part of their driving experience are fueling increased interest in connected car features. Airbiquity’s Smartphone Integration solution enables Nissan to meet this demand,” said Kamyar Moinzadeh, chief executive officer of Airbiquity. “Today’s announcement is evidence of the partnership between our companies that began with the global carwings system in Nissan LEAF and is now expanding to new model lines.”

Cars are becoming increasingly popular platforms for cloud-based services and IP connectivity, offering drivers the ability to tap into popular mobile apps on vehicle dashboards as well as gain insights into their driving patters and fuel usage. Some connected vehicle platforms even offer the potential to back-up a range of in-vehicle settings in the cloud.

Earlier this year Nissan collaborated with AT&T and SiriusXM on an integrated roadside assistance and vehicle tracking solution that uses a combination of satellite and cellular networks, and at the time suggested more services were on the way.

Analysts and vendors alike believe the connected car market is going to expand rapidly over the next few years. Rich Stomp, managing director at IBM recently likened cars to “mobile datacentres on wheels” on the back of a similar partnership. And according to a recently published Transparency Market Research report, the global connected car market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 34.7 per cent to reach $131.9bn by 2019.