Apple has announced CarPlay, its automotive interface for iPhones running iOS 7 or later. “CarPlay” is the new official product name for its previously-announced ‘iOS in the Car’ initiative. Apple is touting CarPlay as a “smarter, safer and more fun way to use iPhone in the car.” CarPlay will make its debut at the Geneva Auto Show this week, with debuts from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo.
“CarPlay has been designed from the ground up to provide drivers with an incredible experience using their iPhone in the car,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of iPhone and iOS Product Marketing. “iPhone users always want their content at their fingertips, and CarPlay lets drivers use their iPhone in the car with minimized distraction. We have an amazing lineup of auto partners rolling out CarPlay, and we’re thrilled it will make its debut this week in Geneva,” he added.
A vehicle with CarPlay integrated into its entertainment system will let drivers control Siri to search for contacts, make calls, return missed calls or listen to voicemails. When incoming messages or notifications arrive, Siri responds to driver requests through voice commands, by reading messages and letting drivers dictate responses or simply make a call.
CarPlay adds Google Now-like context awareness to deliver driving directions more intuitively by working with Maps to anticipate destinations based on recent trips via contacts, emails or texts, and provides routing instructions, traffic conditions and ETA. Drivers can also tell Siri a desitination and receive spoken turn-by-turn directions, along with Maps, which will appear on the car’s built-in display.
Apple CarPlay functionality will be available as an update to iOS 7 and works with Lightning-enabled iPhones, including iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5, while the CarPlay interface will be available in select cars later in 2014. Manufacturers supporting CarPlay include BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Land Rover, Kia, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Peugeot, Citroën, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota. Models with CarPlay fitted and on display at Geneva will include models from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo.
