Nokia partners with Harman to ‘standardize’ cellular infotainment

Though Microsoft, RIM and possibly Google are already vying to be the center of the automotive infotainment push, a certain Finnish phone manufacturer says it wants to take charge — in what seems to be the latest phase of its Terminal Mode initiative, Nokia’s tapped infotainment provider Harman to “standardize” the interface between phone and car. Like Harman’s last in-dash venture, a touchscreen and physical controls will be the focus, while your handset (rather than an Intel Atom) does the heavy lifting. Connected via Bluetooth or USB, your Nokia will play music, deliver Ovi Maps, respond to voice control and more, with the entire phone display duplicated onto the car’s larger touchscreen for easy access and a set of auto-specific apps planned for Nokia’s Ovi Store. It all sounds pretty swell, but it’s still not clear how the companies intend to standardize anything beyond their balance sheets; we’re not sure how much Nokia will appreciate you connecting a Droid to their Ovi-powered car. PR after the break.

Update: It appears that this is part of Nokia’s Terminal Mode initiative, which — as some have noted in comments — we’ve actually told you about before. Whoops!

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Nokia partners with Harman to ‘standardize’ cellular infotainment originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 May 2010 22:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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