Apple has announced that auto manufacturers are rolling out a service dubbed ‘CarPlay’, enabling customers to use the iPhone in the car. CarPlay offers iPhone users an intuitive way to make calls, use Maps, listen to music and access messages with a word or a touch. Users can control CarPlay from the car’s native interface or push-and-hold the voice control button on the steering wheel to activate Siri. Vehicles from Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo will premiere CarPlay to their drivers this week, while additional auto manufacturers bringing CarPlay to their drivers down the road include BMW Group, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai Motor Company, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia Motors, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan Motor Company, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota Motor Corp.
Once iPhone is connected to a vehicle with CarPlay integration, Siri helps users access their contacts, make calls, return missed calls or listen to voicemails. When incoming messages or notifications arrive, Siri provides an eyes-free experience by responding to requests through voice commands, by reading drivers’ messages and letting them dictate responses or simply make a call.
CarPlay makes driving directions more intuitive by working with Maps to anticipate destinations based on recent trips via contacts, emails or texts, and provides routing instructions, traffic conditions and ETA. Customers can also ask Siri and receive spoken turn-by-turn directions, along with Maps, which will appear on the car’s built-in display.
CarPlay gives drivers access to music, podcasts, audiobooks and iTunes Radio with navigation through listening choices from the car’s built-in controls or by asking Siri to pull up what the user would like to hear. CarPlay also supports select third-party audio apps including Spotify and iHeartRadio, so users can listen to their favorite radio services or sports broadcast apps while driving.
Apple CarPlay is available as an update to iOS 7 and works with Lightning-enabled iPhones, including iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c and iPhone 5. CarPlay will be available in select cars shipping in 2014.
