M2M


Taking the road to the connected car


The future is bright for connected cars as wireless connectivity begins to change the way we get from A to B effi ciently, says Stephane Petti, of Orange Business Services


nection. And the question is not if, but when. Consumers will recognize the benefi ts of car


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usage optimization as it increases safety and enables effi cient navigation, shorter routes, as well as other time-saving and effi cient applica- tions, all brought to life through wireless net- work connectivity. Already cars are being connected for the pur-


pose of enabling safety applications, but this is only the beginning of optimizing car usage through wireless connectivity. People want to go from A to B in an effi cient and safe way, sav- ing time and money. Enhancing this experience is a challenge already met by the automotive industry in many ways but as wireless network- ing technology begins to feature in new con- nected cars, network operators and technology vendors are seeing new opportunities emerge. Whether using satellite, WiMAX, LTE or


another wireless technology, connected cars are emerging as a new way to enhance how we get from one place to another. As wireless connectivity and applications reach deeper into our personal and professional lives, the driving experience needs to mirror this evolution.


Mobile connections According to IMS Research, the market for connected cars will see a 650 per cent growth from 5·4 million units in 2010, to exceed 40·5 million unit sales in 2017. IMS defi nes a connected car as any light vehicle that features a two-way data connection either through a cell phone or embedded modem. It noted that nearly 60 per cent of consumers it surveyed


About the author


Stephane Petti is automotive business development director at the international M2M centre of Orange Business Services


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n the future, all automobiles will be con- nected in one way or another. Every ve- hicle will have an embedded wireless con-


Machine-to-machine communication is penetrating a fast widening range of industries, services and activities – from healthcare, food production and the utilities to transport


want a connected system in their next car, and almost half would be willing to pay for a con- nected system in their next car. T ese consum- ers were willing to pay a maximum of €10 per month, or around €140 per year for connected services. Government initiatives related to safety fea-


tures are spurring increased consumer interest. T e European Union has said that by 2015 it wants all new cars to be fi tted with a box that can generate a call when the vehicle crashes or has an emergency. T e idea of a communica- tion box within all new vehicles plays on the need to leverage safety applications for wire- less connectivity, such as automatic emergency calling – but what will really push the market forward is live traffi c and weather updates, In- ternet, social media services, as well as other ‘Internet on wheels’ services. It is this combination of new opportunities


in technologies as well as encouragement from government initiatives that is shaping a new era in connected cars.


Better driving From the automotive manufacturers’ side, a connected car is one way in which they can continue to shape innovation. T e primary purpose of a car is mobility and manufacturers are seeing opportunities to bring greater lev- els of intelligence and entertainment into the driving experience. With a new focus on data over wireless net-


works, car makers are looking to new solutions enabled by telecoms technology and services. Forward-thinking telcos have the opportunity to leverage their network infrastructure and make this new era of connected cars a reality. T ey have the experience in telecommunications net- working and understanding of wireless technolo- gy to help incorporate connectivity into cars and support connected cars as they take to the road.


Widening ambitions T e 1980s car phone was perhaps an archaic be- ginning for a consumer-facing mix of automo- tive and mobile technology. It off ered basic call-


LAND mobile September 2012


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