Mobile News

Deutsche Telekom and Continental are in union now to bring standard infotainment services previously seen exclusively in executive and luxury cars to the compact and mid-sized vehicle classes. The aim is to make the Internet and specific applications for drivers part of the standard equipment in all categories of vehicles.

To achieve this, both companies are combining their automotive expertise into a technology alliance. Under the name AutoLinQ, a prototype of this idea has been installed in a VW Passat CC, which will be on show at Deutsche Telekom's CeBIT stand.

The AutoLinQ solution is based on the principle behind the iPhone cell phone - simple operation and wide range of mini-programs or apps. Continental has developed its own cockpit computer for the mini-programs, which uses the Android OS by Google. Apps run on this cockpit computer either as permanently installed programs or via a special browser, which retrieves the data from an Internet platform. Deutsche Telekom's T-Systems use a combination of information and communication technology to make the Internet and mini-programs available even during journeys. The solution also incorporates the latest findings from T-Labs.

At CeBIT, the partners will demonstrate all the features developed by now - apps for searching and downloading music using the Deutsche Telekom Musicload service, as well as for T-Online's news offering. E-mails can also be received and read out in the car, and answered using voice recording technology - without drivers having to lift a finger from the steering wheel or take their eyes off the road.

AutoLinQ also include an online address book which is linked to the navigation system. Drivers can type in journey destinations on the computer at home or at work before even getting in the car, or via their cell phone. What is more, as the vehicle is connected to Deutsche Telekom's mobile communications network, it is even possible to carry out some functions via remote control. For example, drivers can call up information that tells them where the car is parked or check whether the sunroof is open and close it directly using their cell phone.

You can see also all the inventions from Deutsche Telekom at their CeBIT stand in Hall 4 in March 2- 6.