Anonymous Google sources say that the tech giant is now working on designing a new Android version that could be directly incorporated into cars allowing drivers to be 24/7 connected with no help from a smartphone.
Google already has an Android version for car use – Android Auto, but that version needs a phone to be connected to the vehicle and a compatible car with a built-in screen.
Two Google sources say that the new version of Android for cars will be released when Android M, the latest version of Google’s mobile operating system, would be launched i.e. in a year or more. The two sources refused to disclosure their identity since they were forbidden to talk about their employer’s future plans.
Thilo Koslowski, vehicle industry expert currently working for Gartner, said that he didn’t know about Google’s new move, but he believed that the tech company would have a much stronger influence on the car industry if it turned its Android-powered system into a built-in part of the vehicle, rather than just an add-on.
Experts now say that if Google succeeds, Android Auto would be the standard operating system for high tech vehicles, while the loads of data gathered anonymously by Google about the driver’s options and car’s location would give the company tremendous competitive boost.
Google’s rival, Apple, is also working on conquering the automotive industry. Early this year, Apple launched CarPlay, a software very similar to Google Auto, and tried to make dozens of carmakers to integrate it into their cars. Google also has been negotiating with General Motors, Nissan, and Hyundai on its car software.
Both CarPLay and current Android Auto need a smartphone to connect to the car’s system. However, Google says that its new system would prevent Android from switching off when the smartphone’s battery gets empty.
With embedded it’s always on, always there. You don’t have to depend on your phone being there and on,”
said one of the two Google anonymous sources about the new Android.
Sources also say that Google maps for instance would be able to connect to the car’s components and warn the driver when the fuel is low while showing him the way to the nearest gas station.
However, automotive experts say that Google may have hard times in convincing carmakers that the Android built-in system is a must-have for their cars. First, no car maker would give away confidential information about their products to a tech giant, and second, every automaker wants their cars to provide the drivers with a unique experience.
Image Source: Android Police
