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Apple and Mercedes-Benz to Team Up for New Nav System

Computer and gadget-maker Apple is said to be partnered with Mercedes-Benzto develop a brand new type of navigation and in-car entertainment system. German magazine Focus describes the system as being proprietary to the three-pointed star, and will be available in its products starting model year 2009.

The system is expected to be similar in technology and interface to Apple's new iPhone that goes on sale this month. Preliminary reviews of the clean and simple to use Apple phone would certainly improve the situation for Mercedes, and would be a step forward from the cluttered "Command" system navigation. It has been suggested that Mercedes' system will be like the iPhone in that it will be a complete touch screen system without any “hard”

Apple's iPhone is making waves in the telecommunications industry. Can it do the same for navigation systems? (Photo: Apple)

buttons mounted on the side or bottom of the interface. Apple's dedication to overall design should also ensure that the operating software is intuitive to the fingertips and pleasing to the eyes. The system should also be linked to the new armrest-mounted scroll wheel that debuted on the S-Class and the upcoming C-Class. Mercedes-Benz is keen to create a new system that's simple tooperate on first use with little fiddling and fumbling around.

Perhaps more important than the fact that Apple is choosing a specific automaker

The C-Class already has some pretty neat hardware, but what can Apple do about the software? (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

to work with is the rate at which computer technology is making its way into modern cars, specifically technology related to the internet. While no automakers have integrated the internet seamlessly into their vehicles (via WiFi or any other means), it has been an area many carmakers have tried to solve. Volkswagen was amongst the first to work with Google, and demonstrated a potential navigation system that not only utilized online Google Maps to provide nav assistance, but was also hooked up to the internet via a high-speed WiFi connection capable of giving live traffic updates, and completing searches for information such as the prices of fuel at specific gas stations and the business hours of shops, along with additional useful features.Now that many telecommunications

... and can they integrate it with existing systems such as the S-Class' "knob"? (Photo: Mercedes-Benz)

companies offer mobile WiFi for roaming travelers with laptops, will it be long before your car has a monthly connection fee and a choice of providers?

Meanwhile, Microsoft has been busy working with both Fiat and Ford to develop Bluetooth-based systems for cellphones and in-car entertainment. Ford's Sync system features voice recognition, which can be used to call up numbers from one's address book. The system is also the first of its type capable of reading text messages aloud over the car's stereo system. With growing experience in the cellular telephone world, not to mention its experience with the iPod, we can only assume the Apple-Mercedes system will feature similar traits and technologies. We're also curious about what Apple's nav system will be called. iDrive is already taken by BMW, and iNav plus its derivatives are in use as well. iCar is also being used by Mitsubishi for its rear-engined microcar. Could it be iFind... or maybe iLost?

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