Mobile smartphone connections in cars is set to be standardised as 11 major car and technology companies have agreed to work together. Daimler, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota and Volkswagen have been joined by Alpine, LG Electronics, Nokia, Panasonic and Samsung to form the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCM). They want to develop a single, standard method of connecting smartphones to in-car systems.
The aim is to make it easier and cheaper for car owners to connect their mobile devices to the car. This will make it simpler to use hands-free phone systems, mp3 music players and satellite navigation from a mobile phone.
Called the Terminal Mode system, the CCM is the first time leading players in car and mobile phone technology have come together to create a single way of linking mobile phones and in-car systems.
Nokia's Floris van de Klashorst, Director of Automotive, said: "We understand people want to use their smartphones everywhere, including in the car. The CCM has the power to turn the Terminal Mode into the global standard for integration."