For the technology landscape, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is a battleground for companies that compete in this arena. They unveil their latest products and concepts as a way to increase not only brand awareness, but also drum up excitement for what could be coming down the pipeline.
The most recent show starts next week and the biggest showdown this year could on the automotive front with Audi and Google against BMW and Apple. This is because mobile integration with automobiles and "smart cars" could be the next hot consumer item.
According to an article from Apple Insider, the iOS in the Car strategy was unveiled during this year's Worldwide Developer's Conference. The company's idea is for the iPhone to become the "brain" of the system. This means many features like GPS, music and in-car phone calls would only be available when the smartphone was connected – either through a hard wire or Bluetooth connection. It is already available in the 2012 Honda Civic and 2015 Honda Fit.
Apple also has already formed relationships with multiple car manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Chevrolet and Jaguar, among others. Some of them have already started down the path of adding iOS integration into the latest models of their automobiles.
This is just another example of how mobile devices are penetrating the everyday life of consumers and making it harder to deny their importance. Smartphones and tablets play a larger role in the corporate landscape and organizations should consider partnering with an IT consulting firm that specializes in successful iPhone and iPad deployment to take advantage of it.
