Apple set the norm by the fantastic success of the Apple Appstore for the iPhone, iPod and now iPad. This has not given Apple’s competitors any rest, and we see “appstores” coming from every major device manufacturer today. You could of course argue that what Apple has created, is a long way from an open platform, as Apple owns all the IPRs themselves, and they are the only provider of the hardware. But where we cannot argue, is the fact they have managed to create an Ecosystem that allows third party developers the possibility to create, and perhaps most importantly, earn money on developing and selling applications.

Most open platform initiatives until now, seem to be driven from a technical viewpoint. One early and successful example is of course OSGi, which today can be found in a wide range of telematics and M2M applications, like automotive, eHealth and smart homes.  OSGi solves many of the things we want from an open platform, but it does not create an open marketplace by itself. Another more recent example is Genivi, which is quite firmly stuck in the Automotive area. Genivi attempts to create a common base platform for Infotainment systems. They have a number of strong supporters like BMW, GM, Intel, Magneti Marelli and many more. If the momentum stretches far enough to create a common marketplace and ecosystem will be interesting to watch.

Because that is really the key point as I see it today. If you want an open platform for the internal benefits of shorter development cycles, lower costs etc, then go ahead and use what is available. But if you also want to help create a new ecosystem, where developers are motivated to write new, innovative applications, I think we need something more. It will not be enough if every car OEM has their own “open platform and appstore”, we will not reach critical mass. I think that we need some sort of common standard for this. An application developed for car brand X should also work in car brand Y. Otherwise, we run the risk of leaving the market to the Apples and Googles of the world. Why should I as a consumer pay once again for an application in my car, when I already have it on my iPhone or Android phone? Nokia’s Terminal Mode hints at what is possible with this type of solution. Or perhaps even more interestingly, will Googles “open platform” Android be installed in the next car you buy, giving you access to Android Market?

No one knows the future, but regarding open platforms, I do know that we are in for a couple of exciting years to come! Some will fail, some will succeed, but you can be sure that the car you buy 10 years from now, will either have an on-board platform that lets you download the apps you want, or have an interface to your smartphone that lets you do the same thing.

//Per Lindberg

Post-crash systems and e-call services in cars are going from innovation to standardisation. Car manufacturers are offering complete in-built solutions to enhance safety and add new functionality such as “infotainment”, navigation and remote diagnostics to add further value to the “online” car. In parallel, after-market solutions for use within the car are areas which are growing rapidly. This also means that new industries are entering the space of the car. Telenor Connexion is for example working closely with the insurance sector in deploying pay-as-the-drive solutions and together with different consumer electronics manufacturers (for example Personal Navigation Devices) we are developing solutions for usage within the car environment.

How can Telenor Connexion help?

The Automotive sector has always been one of our focus markets; hence we have some 10 years of experience of integrating wireless connectivity solutions for the car industry. We have developed products and services specially designed to fit the production process and business logics of the industry. One example of is our surface mounted SIM – Telenor Connexion eSIM designed especially for the specific environments within integrated car solutions. Our tailored M2M SIM concept facilitates the usage of only one standardised solution for connectivity no matter where the car is produced, sold or used. Our automated provisioning system enables SIM-cards and connectivity being in-built in in the car production line, but with no charges until the car is actually sold and the telematics system is used.

Volvo Cars

”We have cooperated with Telenor for many years to develop and implement our e-call service, OnCall, in different countries. Reliability of the technical solution, international reach and the right business model set-up for this unique service were some of the important factors in choosing our communication partner for the OnCall service. We are continuing to develop OnCall and other telematics solutions in close cooperation with Telenor to enhance our telematics offering.”

Joost van den Bosch, MSS Lifecycle Extended Offer Manager, Volvo Cars

• Base telematics (eCall, bCall, stolen vehicle tracking)
• Convenience services (concierge, vehicle homepage etc.)
• Internal services (remote diagnostics, remote S/W download)
• Infotainment (streaming radio, map updates, web browsing etc).

Within the commercial vehicle industry, connectivity can provide the possibility for a range of value adding services for manufacturers of truck as well as the end-user of the truck. Truck OEM:s have several drivers to add communication services in the truck:

• Potential new revenue sources – by providing services such as Fleet Management
• Quality – by monitoring diagnostics functions
• Cost reduction – by monitoring diagnostics function, preventive maintenance
• New ways of selling trucks – by leasing contracts, service contracts etc.

According to Berg Insight (2009), Fleet Management solutions alone are expected to grow by an annual compound rate of over 20 percent, from 1.1 million units (Europe) in 2009 to 3.3 million units in 2013. In addition, an EU-based ITS action plan is pinpointing a number of targets to enable different solutions within the transportation sector. The key objectives is to provide interoperable (within EU and between different transportation systems) solutions to reduce congestion, traffic fatalities and CO2 emission by use of intelligent transport systems. Wireless connectivity plays an important role in achieving this and is expected to increase in both line-fit solutions as well as after-market solutions.

Telenor Connexion is the leading provider of connectivity solutions for the automotive industry working closely with customers such as Daimler, Scania and Volvo Cars securing the operations of already deployed telematics solutions as well as developing the future solutions for the connected car or truck.