Continental Forges Technology Alliance with Six Partners and Demonstrates AutoLinQ™ Apps

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Continental today announced AutoLinQ™ development alliances with technology partners including Deutsche Telekom, INRIX, Navigon, NAVTEQ, Pandora and Ygomi.  At the Telematics Detroit 2010 conference, Continental is featuring an AutoLinQ™ demonstration vehicle that includes select applications designed in collaboration with its partners to make driving safer, more eco-friendly and convenient.

"Continental's AutoLinQ platform is attracting some of the biggest names in the Telematics and consumer electronics industry," said Brian Droessler, vice president of strategy and portfolio for Continental's Infotainment and Connectivity Business Unit.  "One of Continental's goals for its AutoLinQ platform is to forge technology alliances with companies, and the Android developer community, to provide drivers with access to new information and content that is relevant to the driving experience."

The demonstration vehicle on the show floor of the Telematics Detroit conference and exhibition is a clear example of how the car of the future will be connected.  With the press of a button, or via a spoken command, a vehicle owner is able to connect to what matters in their life.

Zero or One Click Human Machine Interface Strategy

Continental is exploring intuitive human machine interface (HMI) strategies for its AutoLinQ demonstration vehicles.  The company is testing several user interfaces to achieve its goal of a zero, or one-click, operation of applications and functions inside the car.  The display inside the AutoLinQ demonstration vehicle includes large icons to provide drivers and passengers with easy access to radio, media, navigation, applications and other settings.  Content can be accessed and controlled through a touch screen display, steering wheel controls, voice recognition and text-to-speech technology.  Current features and applications inside the demo vehicle include:

Deutsche Telekom Connects Drivers to Personalized Content and Information

Continental has partnered with Deutsche Telekom to wirelessly connect the car to a high-speed wireless network.  Through a secure connection, Continental's AutoLinQ platform connects the car to servers, online services and wireless infrastructure.  Through the connection, vehicle occupants can download the following applications developed by Deutsche Telekom:

At the touch of a button, a driver can download e-mails, sync the information to the car and have it broadcast through the audio system via text-to-speech technology.  Drivers are able to respond to e-mails by recording audio messages.

Drivers also can remain current by accessing the latest news from online websites, personal RSS feeds or other social networking sites.  The personalized news reports and information also is broadcast through the vehicle audio system using text-to-speech technology.

These applications can be controlled via voice commands. The driver can keep his eyes on the road and the hands on the steering wheel thus helping reduce the potential for driver distraction.

Drivers Will Be Connected with Pandora

54 million people have registered on Pandora and more than 2.5 million people join Pandora every month in order to create and listen to personalized radio stations that are generated immediately with the input of a single seed: an artist name, song or genre.  Continental's AutoLinQ platform adds to the ubiquity of Pandora, enabling drivers to access the music they love in the car, where more than 50% of all radio listening occurs.  

NAVTEQ Provides Rich Content, Enables Services for Connected Navigation

To make driving safer, more eco-friendly and convenient, NAVTEQ is contributing to Continental's AutoLinQ demonstration vehicle by enabling an automotive-focused service delivery framework.  The customizable framework brings a variety of rich content and services into the car and provides contextually relevant information whether the car is in motion or parked. Running in a browser-based framework, services include NAVTEQ Traffic, Fuel Prices, Points of Interest, "MyCar" car diagnostics, and more. The managed framework is designed to ease and speed integration of new services without updates on devices such as AutoLinQ, resulting in a future-proofed device and enhanced driver satisfaction. The solution is optimized for automotive environments and includes critical security and administrative features such as firewalls and VPNs, vehicle authentication, service portfolio management, service delivery and reporting.

In addition, NAVTEQ provides its automotive-grade quality maps to Navigon's MobileNavigator and Ygomi's Dealer Appointment Application demonstrations.

NAVIGON provides drivers with Turn-by-Turn Navigation

NAVIGON created a MobileNavigator application for Continental's AutoLinQ system.  The award winning Android-based navigation software includes many helpful features that are designed to guide drivers to their destination in the best possible way. MobileNavigator boasts premium navigation functions such as NAVIGON MyRoutes, Reality View™ Pro, Lane Assistant Pro and Speed Assistant.   It also features NAVIGON's easy to use interface as well as sophisticated and elegant map views, which automatically changes between day & night mode and even offers GPS simulation in tunnels.

Ygomi provides vehicle occupants with assistance in critical situations

With Ygomi's dealer appointment app for AutoLinQ, drivers who encounter a check engine light or other vehicle warning can choose to be connected or routed to a nearby or other preferred dealership.  The Ygomi application enables drivers to view their own calendar next to the selected dealer's schedule, and to book a repair appointment.  Drivers can book an appointment on their own or assisted by agents who have the ability to remotely access vehicle location and information.

INRIX App Guides Drivers Through Traffic on The Daily Commute

Continental also has teamed with INRIX, a leading provider of traffic information, to showcase a new category of navigation applications designed for commuters.  Using INRIX real-time and predictive traffic information, the app takes the guesswork out of the daily commute knowing the fastest route, best time to leave and expected travel times for frequent destinations.  Built on the open and flexible AutoLinQ platform, INRIX provides OEMs with a complete set of APIs and rich content to accelerate development of traffic-powered services.

Additional information about Continental's AutoLinQ™ connected services platform and partnerships can be found at www.autolinq.net.  

Continental is a platinum sponsor of Telematics Detroit which is being held June 8 & 9 at the Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Michigan.  In addition to its AutoLinQ demonstration, Continental executives also are participating in keynote panel discussions and presentations during the two day industry conference.

About Continental

With sales of approximately euro 20 billion in 2009 Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tires and technical elastomers, Continental contributes enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also a competent partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently employs approximately 138,000 in 46 countries.

www.continental-automotive.com

www.continental-corporation.com

SOURCE Continental