14 DAY TRIAL // Today, Nokia announced a new application specifically designed for its smartphones, namely the Nokia Car Mode software, which was meant to provide users with easier access to Nokia Drive, as well as to traffic updates and more while behind the wheel.
The new mobile application, set to become available for download via the Ovi Store in the near future for all of the Symbian Belle smartphones from the company (the Nokia 600, Nokia 700 and Nokia 701), as well as for the Nokia N9, is based on Qt, and was presented at the IAA (Internationale Automobil Ausstellung).
The new Nokia Car Mode is the very first commercially available application that offers support for MirrorLink, a standard smartphone-to-car connectivity platform previously known as the Terminal Mode, which is supported by over 20 major global brands from different industries within the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC).
MirrorLink provides users with the possibility to connect smartphones to in-car displays and car controls systems, so that they can control the smartphone via the car dashboard.
Commercially available products compatible with MirrorLink that have been presented at IAA include the Nokia Car Mode and the new ICS-X8 dashboard-mounted unit from Alpine, which offers support for Nokia smartphones.
The Alpine ICS-X8 can provide users with the possibility to retrofit MirrorLink capabilities and Bluetooth hands-free phone, and to use various features of the handsets on a large 7-inch high-resolution display.
“MirrorLink and Nokia Car Mode are a big leap forward in allowing car drivers to access their favourite smartphone services,” said Floris van de Klashorst, director, Automotive Services of Nokia's Location & Commerce business.
“Via MirrorLink users have comfortable and safe access to maps, music and telephony on their phones when they're in their cars even while driving. In the future, MirrorLink will enable plenty of other popular features since we're only at the beginning of what we can do by linking smart devices with vehicles. We expect developers to come up with innovative new applications optimised for use in cars.”
The new Nokia Car Mode mobile application is expected to arrive in the Ovi Store starting with the fourth quarter of the ongoing year.