14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft and Volvo have just announced a new partnership that will allow Band and Volvo owners to control their cars from their wrists.
The Band wristband integration will make it possible to tell a Volvo what to do, and you can start the engine, lock the doors, flash the lights, and trigger the horn. Unfortunately, no, you cannot drive the Volvo with a Band, but that would certainly be a lot of fun (and dangerous too).
Turning off the heat or accessing GPS settings will also be possible from the Band, although it’ll be interesting to see how the latter is going to work on that teeny-tiny display of the wristband.
The new project was announced today at CES 2016 in Las Vegas, with Microsoft thus offering Volvo owners premium features that are already available on other luxury car brands.
Drive your own KITT
If you’re a fan of KITT from the super popular American television series "Knight Rider" (you must be, it was impossible not to love the 1982 Pontiac Trans Am), this new Microsoft Band integration allows you to turn your Volvo into your own robotic car.
At least, that’s what Volvo promises, saying that this new system works pretty much the same as the one used by Michael Knight to fight crimes in California.
Neither Microsoft nor Volvo said anything about when this integration would finally become available, but the companies provided us with some vague timing information. “Expect it to launch in spring 2016,” they said, but without giving us any other details as to what cars could get it and in which regions.
This is the first integration of its kind that the Microsoft Band receives, and it’s clearly welcome for those who own a Volvo, as it further expands the functionality of the device beyond the regular smartwatch and fitness tracker features. In case you’re wondering, the Band is currently available for $249.99 (€210) in the US.