Microsoft and Siemens VDO to Cooperate on the Development of Automotive Infotainment Solutions
07/09/2007 10:05
PR Newswire
REGENSBURG, Germany, and REDMOND, Washington, September 7 /PRNewswire/ --
- Siemens VDO and Microsoft will join forces to develop in-vehicle
communication, information, entertainment and navigation products.
Siemens VDO Automotive AG and Microsoft Corp will join forces to develop
in-vehicle communication, information, entertainment and navigation
products. This new generation of automotive products will be designed to meet
the industry's growing demand for innovative, flexible and affordable
solutions. Working together, Siemens VDO and Microsoft will be able to
deliver these advanced solutions to market much faster than the typical
automotive industry's product development cycle. According to current
planning, the first Siemens VDO product based on Microsoft(R) software
technology is expected to go into production as early as 2009.
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Siemens VDO will bring to market a new generation of automotive
infotainment systems that include navigation, high-end multimedia units and
interfaces to connect portable electronic entertainment devices using the
Microsoft software technology platform. Microsoft's expertise in software for
multimedia, entertainment and communications solutions in combination with
Siemens VDO's long years of experience in the development of in-vehicle
multimedia and infotainment systems forms the ideal basis for this
collaboration. Siemens VDO's system know-how in the design of infotainment
systems and their integration and networking in the vehicle will play an
important role. The goal of this joint effort is to make it possible to
optimally serve the requirements and standards of the automotive industry at
any time.
The collaboration will provide both companies with definite strategic
advantages. By using the Microsoft Auto platform, a robust and
general-purpose in-car software technology, Siemens VDO will be able to fully
concentrate on its key competences of system design, vehicle integration,
driver assistance systems and safety systems. And, Siemens VDO will also be
able to actively help shape Microsoft Auto and license platform-compliant
applications, such as navigation functions, for third-party suppliers.
Microsoft will concentrate on the further development of Microsoft Auto
with a special focus on multimedia applications and the integration of
portable consumer devices. Extensive experience in the field of consumer
electronics helps ensure that the solutions resulting from this collaborative
effort will be compatible with current and future mobile devices and internet
services.
The first milestone in the collaboration is a multimedia platform that
Siemens VDO is developing based on Microsoft Auto. This platform will make it
possible to integrate functions and portable devices from the field of
consumer electronics more closely into the vehicle as soon as 2009.
Consequently, new solutions in consumer electronics will be adapted for
in-vehicle use more quickly and easily, since it will only be necessary
to add individual software components. This helps close the gap between the
short development cycles in communications and information technology and the
comparatively long product life cycles in automotive engineering.
"We are pleased that Siemens VDO has chosen Microsoft as their software
partner," said Martin Thall, general manager of the Automotive Business Unit
at Microsoft. "The extremely flexible and modular nature of the Microsoft
Auto platform makes it perfectly suited to provide a range of innovative
infotainment solutions that transform the driving experience by connecting
drivers seamlessly to the people, information and entertainment they care
about while they are on the road."
"Thanks to this cooperative project with Microsoft, we will be able to
incorporate the rapidly changing trends in consumer electronics into the
world of automotive electronics in an ideal way," said Helmut Matschi, member
of the board of Siemens VDO. "Working together, we will make both current and
future multimedia and infotainment solutions, some of which are still under
development, available to current vehicle generations."
About Siemens VDO Automotive AG
Siemens VDO Automotive AG (Regensburg) is one of the world's leading
automotive electronics and mechatronics suppliers, earning approximately 70
percent of its total annual sales in this segment. As an automotive industry
development partner, the company's innovative products and solutions enhance
safety, driving comfort, cost-effectiveness and performance, as well as
reduce emissions and keep drivers informed and in touch with the world. In
the 2006 business year (Sept. 30, 2006), Siemens VDO generated sales of more
than EUR 10 billion and achieved results of EUR 669 million based on US-GAAP,
which corresponds to an EBIT margin of 6.7 percent.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise
their full potential.
About Microsoft EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa)
Microsoft has operated in EMEA since 1982. In the region Microsoft
employs more than 13,000 people in 60 subsidiaries, delivering products and
services in 138 countries and territories.
This material is for informational purposes only. Microsoft Corp
disclaims all warranties and conditions with regard to use of the material
for other purposes. Microsoft Corp shall not, at any time, be liable for any
special, direct, indirect or consequential damages, whether in an action of
contract, negligence or other action arising out of or in connection with the
use or performance of the material. Nothing herein should be construed as
constituting any kind of warranty.
Web site: http://www.microsoft.com
Cyril Moloney for Microsoft Corporation, +44-20-7067-0432, cmoloney@webershandwick.com; or Eva Appold of Siemens VDO Automotive AG, +49 (6196) 87-4344, eva.appold@siemens.com /NOTE TO EDITORS: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft in EMEA, please visit http://www.microsoft.com/emea or the EMEA Press Centre at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/presscentre. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at the time of publication, but may since have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact the Microsoft EMEA Press Office at +44-870-243-0515 or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/emea/contactus.
If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft Corp, please visit the Microsoft web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass on Microsoft's corporate information pages./
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