BMWs hit the road with Microsoft

Cars in BMW's new line, the BMW 7 Series, are equipped with a special kind of Windows: the Microsoft kind.

Microsoft's Windows CE software will allow BMW drivers to navigate, make calls and control many of the cars' other features. The BMW 7 Series was launched in Germany last year and has just been released in the United States.

The new line of BMWs use a navigating system from Siemens, called the Siemens VDO Automotive AG, which includes Microsoft's operating system. Microsoft also recently announced the launch of Windows CE for Automotive v3.5, the newest version of its software for cars based on Windows CE.

Microsoft said last July, that over the next year and a half, nine automakers would ship cars with built-in devices that use the Windows CE operating system, which allows drivers to check their calendars or stock portfolios and use voice commands.

Microsoft has been working with consulting company Accenture to provide what it calls "telematic" services for cars, a combination of telecom and data technology.

Advertisement

Talkback 6 comments

    Just what you need - A blue sc ...Anonymous -- 05/03/02

    Just what you need -
    A blue screen of death at 240KPH

    See this link to see why the c ...Anonymous -- 06/03/02

    See this link to see why the car may only be road tested with the permission of Microsoft:

    http://www.infoworld.com/articles/op/xml/01/04/16/010416opfoster.xml

    I predict a car crash caused b ...Anonymous -- 07/03/02

    I predict a car crash caused by a Windows crash, probably fatal to at least one person, before these new Beamers have been on the road for six months. ("I was just trying to close Minesweeper and Outlook hung and then...")

    I was a huge BMW fan, loving a ...Anonymous -- 18/03/02

    I was a huge BMW fan, loving almost all their cars. However, with this announcement, I find myself being unable to buy another BMW. Given BMW's innovation track record, I'm quite surprised that they resorted to using WindowsCE rather than a more dependable system.

    The thought of WindowsCE in the vehical with me would ruin the "Sheer driving pleasure".

    I crashed into a tree while wa ...Damian -- 22/08/02

    I crashed into a tree while watching "Gone In 60 Seconds" Damn, Why did my car come with a DVD Player???

    On a serious note. Can you imagine buying a car in the future and before you buy it, you have to sign a user aggreement form which states that the manufacturer will not be liable for any losses incurred in the event of a malfunction.
    Imagine fitting a new set of wheels to your car and Microsoft come along and take legal action for modifying their software?

    Interesting,

Add your opinion

Latest Videos

Sponsored content

Power Centre - Content from our premier sponsors

Blogs

  • Renai LeMay How reliable is IP telephony?
    Have you ever heard a weird kind of hissing, crackling or popping noise when calling someone on an IP telephony line? How rare is the phenomenon these days?
  • Array Forget the NBN, 100Mbps is already here
    Telstra and TransACT will shortly begin offering 100Mbps broadband to many customers. By moving early, the companies have not only raised the bar for Australia's broadband services, but thrown down a challenge to a government that now faces increased pressure to deliver the NBN as promised.
  • Array IT: Govt's cost-cutting bitch
    The government needs to stop looking at IT as a necessary evil or the place to remove costs when the Treasurer comes calling.
  • More blogs »

Tags

Back to top

Featured