Toyota to adapt Ford’s SmartDeviceLink Connectivity feature

MANILA: Toyota Motor Corp has joined hands with ford to work on the next generation cutting edge technology. This joint venture is likely to compete with Google and Apple. The Japanese automaker has decided to adopt Ford-developed SmartDeviceLink software. This software facilitates in establishing connection with user's smartphone and once the connection gets established, the vehicle’s display screen pops up the smartphone apps. In other words, the SDL software integrates the smartphone apps with the vehicle and it can be further controlled via buttons available on the dashboard. This technology has amazing significance in providing assistance during driving the vehicle.

This software can be used to stream music apps available on the smartphone and this will also reduce the dependency on Apple or Google. However, these tech giants will be working for Chinese automobile manufacturers, and maintain their influence in the region. Ford has also revealed that other automakers such as Subaru, Honda, and Mazda Motor corp. are also looking forward to install the standard SDL software in their vehicles.

The major strategy of Ford in developing the vehicle connectivity tool could be the assurance of the owner's privacy. The company takes care of this issue and brought up its own software. The automakers won’t be taking any risk by depending on third party software providers. Previously, many automakers used QNX, an infotainment system software developed by Canada's Blackberry Ltd. The Toyota-Ford deal is likely to grow further and the company might deal with more automakers in the coming years.

Don Butler, executive director of Ford’s connected vehicle and services unit, stated that, “Ford will make the software open source in order to benefit its valued customers across the globe.” Ford has already adopted Apple CarPlay and Android Auto features in some of its luxury vehicles. But, now the company aims to provide a single platform to fulfil the software needs of the vehicles.

Meanwhile, Shigeki Terashi, executive vice-president of Toyota commented that, “the new software will ensure better and safer vehicles in the future. This will also make the smartphone connectivity more secure.”

Toyota has also promised to launch vehicles by the year 2017 that would support internet connectivity via Data Connection Module (DCM). The automaker is also building some specific data centres that would facilitate in processing data in a better way.

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