INRIX XD Traffic Brings Connected Services To Audi Vehicles
The Internet isn't quite "everywhere" yet, but it's well on the way to being so. Rural broadband projects are hoping to take the Web to new places, and with 4G networks popping up all over the place, mobile connectivity is booming as well. One place where the Internet has only recently found is the automobile. While some cars have been equipped with Internet access in the past, it generally required a bulky modem and expensive data plan. But now, automakers are warming up to the idea of just installed Web connectivity into vehicles from the start, and by integrating that into car features, the selling points for these vehicles are becoming more numerous.
Audi and INRIX have announced that they're working together to bring connected navigation to the car. INRIX's XD Traffic will be implemented on mid-2011 year model Audi cars, with the A6 in particular getting a lot of attention. The new tech will provide motorists with real-time traffic information, traffic-influenced turn-by-turn directions and alerts to accidents and other incidents along their route. This marks the first time these two companies have worked together, and it'll be available initially in select European countries as part of an options package that includes Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity.
As a key component of a unique suite of Audi Online services, XD Traffic combines real-time traffic information from INRIX's Smart Driver Network of more than 4 million GPS-enabled vehicles and mobile devices with insights from hundreds of public and private sources to recommend the best routes as well as provide reliable travel journey times and ETAs. Covering major highways, motorways, city streets and secondary roads in countries across Europe and North America, XD Traffic continuously monitors traffic conditions along drivers' routes delivering up to the minute alerts to accidents, road works and other incidents as well as recommending how to best navigate around them.
Needless to say, we're anxious to see if this type of technology will also come over to the American side. With all of the traffic jams that we're growing used to, we could definitely use it.
Audi and INRIX have announced that they're working together to bring connected navigation to the car. INRIX's XD Traffic will be implemented on mid-2011 year model Audi cars, with the A6 in particular getting a lot of attention. The new tech will provide motorists with real-time traffic information, traffic-influenced turn-by-turn directions and alerts to accidents and other incidents along their route. This marks the first time these two companies have worked together, and it'll be available initially in select European countries as part of an options package that includes Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity.
As a key component of a unique suite of Audi Online services, XD Traffic combines real-time traffic information from INRIX's Smart Driver Network of more than 4 million GPS-enabled vehicles and mobile devices with insights from hundreds of public and private sources to recommend the best routes as well as provide reliable travel journey times and ETAs. Covering major highways, motorways, city streets and secondary roads in countries across Europe and North America, XD Traffic continuously monitors traffic conditions along drivers' routes delivering up to the minute alerts to accidents, road works and other incidents as well as recommending how to best navigate around them.
Needless to say, we're anxious to see if this type of technology will also come over to the American side. With all of the traffic jams that we're growing used to, we could definitely use it.
Audi AG Selects INRIX XD™ Traffic to Power the Automaker's First Connected Navigation System
First TPEG Over IP-based Pan-European Real-Time Traffic Service Debuts in the 2011 Audi A6
PALERMO, Italy, Jan. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Audi AG and INRIX, the leading provider of traffic and driver services, announced Audi has selected INRIX's XD™ Traffic to help further the company's Audi Connect strategy with real-time traffic information for its navigation systems starting with the mid-2011 model year. At a launch event today for the 2011 Audi A6, the automaker demonstrated how Audi vehicles connected to the Internet via Audi Online Services will use XD Traffic to provide motorists with real-time traffic information, traffic-influenced turn-by-turn directions and alerts to accidents and other incidents along their route.
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"Audi is continuously looking for ways to harness the benefits of the latest technologies to improve the driving experience for our customers," said Ulrich Beeskow, Head of Development for Connected Navigation, Audi AG. "Traffic is no exception. The combination of INRIX's XD Traffic and Connected Services platform helps Audi become the first car manufacturer in the world to deliver a high quality and reliable connected navigation systems our customers can count on to always find the best route and avoid unforeseen delays along the way."
"Audi and INRIX are known as technology innovators so it's only natural that we're collaborating on the design and delivery of a highly advanced traffic-powered navigation solution for their customers," said Bryan Mistele, INRIX president and CEO. "The accelerated development and integration of XD Traffic with Audi's MMI navigation system fuels Audi navigation with the best pan-European real-time traffic information available. Our collaboration advances the automaker's reputation as an industry leader in bringing the latest technical breakthroughs to drivers everywhere."
INRIX XD Traffic debuts on the new Audi MMI with Online Traffic available with today's launch of the 2011 Audi A6. The announcement represents the first product launch in the collaborations between Audi, INRIX and the automaker's hardware and software suppliers to deliver real-time traffic information to Audi's connected navigation systems. Delivered via INRIX's Connected Services platform, the service will be available initially in select European countries as part of an options package that includes Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity.
As a key component of a unique suite of Audi Online services, XD Traffic combines real-time traffic information from INRIX's Smart Driver Network of more than 4 million GPS-enabled vehicles and mobile devices with insights from hundreds of public and private sources to recommend the best routes as well as provide reliable travel journey times and ETAs. Covering major highways, motorways, city streets and secondary roads in countries across Europe and North America, XD Traffic continuously monitors traffic conditions along drivers' routes delivering up to the minute alerts to accidents, road works and other incidents as well as recommending how to best navigate around them.
