Microsoft Corp. announced it is working on a new platform called Windows in the Car, which will feature the company's apps, smartphones and content on the dashboard of the customer's car.
Windows in the Car was first demonstrated at a session at Microsoft's Build developers conference, according to Yahoo! News. The system is designed to use the same interface as the Nokia Lumia handset and the Windows 8/8.1.
Drivers will be able to access their music libraries and directions through Here and Bing maps. They can also access search, text messaging and voice calls. Windows in the Car puts Microsoft in competition with Google's Open Automotive Alliance (OAA) and Apple's CarPlay.
Microsoft's move to have devices bring content into the car is something that automakers, such as Ford, have been doing for years, PC Magazine reported. Steve Teixeira, director of program management for the Internet of Things Group at Microsoft, said car companies have been "using a Windows kernel upon which they would build their own user experience. We really didn't have a point of view in the past on what should we paint in the dashboard."
Windows in the Car will use MirrorLink, a standard that is supported by a number of automakers, such as General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Kai and Volkswagen.
MirrorLink will be used to connect to a car's screen and push information between connected devices, Yahoo! News reported.
Because the standard is supported by a list of car companies, Windows in the Car could work for old and new cars.
Apps were also shown in the demos at the conference, PC Magazine reported. They included music streaming devices such as Spotify, Pandora and Tuneln, along with Trapster, which can be used to find speed traps and for State Farm insurance.
Teixeira did not share any details about a launch date or the operation of the system with existing controls. However, he said, "I don't want to touch tiny things on my phone; I want to use my voice," which indicates that voice recognition may play a role in the system.
