Volvo Brings Spotify to Their Cars (And Why This is a Big Deal)
Spotify is one of the world’s most popular streaming music services. Naturally, we can’t get it in Canada yet–negotiations over licensing issues continue to drag on–but trust me when I tell you that Spotify is a big deal.
Volvo has made several announcements lately about how it’s getting to the “connected car” arena. This week, they said they’ll soon reveal how drivers will be able to have a seamless Spotify experience while driver.
These days, it’s all about what’s in the dashboard. The gadgetry therein just keeps on getting cooler and cooler. The newest trend seems to be modems embedded in the car for always-on mobile Internet access.
Chrysler has a deal with Spring on a system called Uconnect Access. Audi cars can turn your car into a WiFi hotspot thanks to T-Mobile. Mercedes-Benz has a deal with Hughe Telematics, which is owned by Verizon.
Think what “always on” Internet connectivity could mean for drivers. Instant real-time traffic. On-demand weather. An ability to “talk” to other cars on the road to exchange information about road conditions. And let’s not even begin to talk about the entertainment possibilities.
How long before we see a Canadian mobile provider like Telus, Rogers or Bell make a deal with an auto manufacturer?
