Renault is taking app development to its lineup of vehicles with a brand new integrated system that’s in keeping with Android. The product, referred to as R-Link, is actually a seven-inch touchscreen computer that’s a great deal equivalent to CUE , an infotainment system that was recently announced by Cadillac at CTIA. Unlike CUE, however, Renault is opening its platform to independent developers and may host an app store, which it hopes will create a brand new income for the corporate. The French automaker plans to launch R-Link with nearly 50 apps, so that it will appear first within the Clio 4 and Zoe , and at last spread around the Renault’s entire product range. Whether app developers simply prefer to flood the marketplace with countless gas mileage and placement-sharing apps is yet to be seen, although we now have an excellent idea for one which shares contact details just by “bumping” your car into the only in front of you. Hey, it is a nice strategy to exchange insurance information, anyway. You can find the complete PR after the break.
As a partner of the LeWeb’11 exhibition, Europe’s primary showcase for digital entrepreneurs, Renault has chosen the Parisian show to bare R-LINK, the tactile, integrated, connected tablet that’s poised to equip its forthcoming models.
R-LINK will provide future Renault vehicles with affordable, intuitive multimedia connectivity, both with the skin world and with its users.
R-LINK is a scalable tablet because of the input of application developers who will progressively upgrade its content.
Renault will take advantage of the LeWeb’11 show to ask app developers to play a component on this adventure because of the establishment of a partnership with Paris Incubateur.
R-LINK, AN INTEGRATED, CONNECTED, MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM THOUGHT THROUGH FOR IN-VEHICLE USE
To enable drivers to manage its functions without taking their eyes off the street, R-LINK incorporates a large 18cm tactile display, steering wheel-mounted controls and speech recognition. R-LINK also delivers comprehensive connectivity for automotive services and applications in an AppStore (R-LINK Store).
R-LINK is a simple, user-friendly interface that covers the complete car’s functions and information. The menu provides access to the sector of in-car multimedia, GPS TomTom LIVE navigation, the R-LINK Store, etc. Users can be ready to customize both their homepage and access to their favorite applications.
On the time of its release, R-LINK Store will pack greater than 50 existing useful and community smartphone applications adapted to exploit at the move. They are going to be downloadable on to the tablet contained in the car or via the My Renault account.
R-LINK will equip ZOE and New Clio. In line with its determination to make access to innovations a reasonable reality for all, R-LINK might be available for all forthcoming Renault models at an unrivaled low cost.
After becoming the 1st brand to propose steering wheel-mounted fingertip remote audio controls and in-car navigation, after making the hands-free card, high-res displays and GPS navigation (Carminat TomTom for €490) affordable, available features, and after launching connected navigation (Carminat TomTom LIVE), Renault continues to innovate with R-LINK.
RENAULT LAUNCHES A CAMPAIGN TO BRING DEVELOPERS ON-BOARD
Like Renault, developers and begin-up businesses are actively exploring technologies and services that address the issues related to automotive mobility (navigation aids, infomobility applications, in-car entertainment, etc.).
Renault and Laboratoire Paris Région Innovation want to encourage the creation of a start-up ecosystem to target the problem of mobility-related connected services and TICs. a brand new start-up incubator focusing on this field is because of be inaugurated in March 2012.
Renault is asking to construct relationships with young, innovative businesses (lower than four years’ existence) that are either within the strategy of developing or that have already released their first products or services. The target of those partnerships is to enable such companies to finish their research in ideal conditions (private offices, personalized individual guidance, finance, etc.).
The forms and list of documents it is crucial to supply when applying to be taken on-board by the ‘Connected Services and TIC for Mobility’ incubator may well be downloaded from www.paris.fr/pro until January 31, 2012.
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