Apple Announces CarPlay To Integrate iPhones Into Cars

Apple has announced via a press release CarPlay. The idea is to have a iOS7 style user interface along with Siri to allow iPhone users with iOS 7 to make and receive calls, use Maps, listen to music and access messages. Here’s some more details:

Once iPhone is connected to a vehicle with CarPlay integration, Siri helps you easily access your contacts, make calls, return missed calls or listen to voicemails. When incoming messages or notifications arrive, Siri provides an eyes-free experience by responding to requests through voice commands, by reading drivers’ messages and letting them dictate responses or simply make a call.

CarPlay makes driving directions more intuitive by working with Maps to anticipate destinations based on recent trips via contacts, emails or texts, and provides routing instructions, traffic conditions and ETA. You can also simply ask Siri and receive spoken turn-by-turn directions, along with Maps, which will appear on your car’s built-in display. 

CarPlay gives drivers access to all of their music, podcasts, audiobooks and iTunes Radio℠ with easy navigation through listening choices from the car’s built-in controls or simply by asking Siri to pull up what you’d like to hear. CarPlay also supports select third-party audio apps including Spotify and iHeartRadio, so you can listen to your favorite radio services or sports broadcast apps while driving.

The system will be showed off at the Geneva Auto Show this week and here’s a list of car companies who will be using CarPlay:

  • BMW
  • Ferrari
  • Ford
  • General Motors
  • Honda
  • Hyundai
  • Jaguar
  • Land Rover
  • Kia Motors
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • Mitsubishi
  • Nissan
  • PSA Peugeot Citroën
  • Subaru
  • Suzuki
  • Toyota
  • Volvo

CarPlay will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. The press release says that you’ll need an iPhone with a lightning cable, and this functionality is coming in a future iOS 7 update. So I suspect that CarPlay will be available as part of the iOS 7.1 update that is due sometime this month if the rumor mill is to be believed.

UPDATE: Volvo has come out with a press release with far more details that are specific to them. There’s also a cool demo video for you to watch.

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