Within days of each other, both Ford and Volvo have announced partnerships with online music service Spotify for some pretty cool music streaming car stereos.
The Volvo version is called the Sensus Connected Touch, which allows for a fully voice controlled music playlist. The streaming car stereo connects to the Spotify servers by either using an external 3G/4G wireless dongle, or by connecting to a mobile phone using Bluetooth. While the Ford version falls under the manufacturer's AppLink umbrella, it promises all the same features as the differently titled Volvo version.
Considering you can get a ticket or even get into a collision simply by changing songs on an iPod while driving, this is a big coup for both in-car musical enjoyment as well as for road safety.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Voice-activated Stereos
- The rise of voice-controlled car stereos offers disruptive innovation opportunities for car manufacturers and tech companies to enhance the in-car music streaming experience.
- Streaming Car Stereos
- The integration of online music services like Spotify into car stereos presents opportunities for partnerships between automakers and streaming platforms to revolutionize the in-car entertainment industry.
- Connected Vehicle Technology
- The collaboration between car manufacturers and digital music platforms highlights the trend toward developing connected vehicle technology, opening up possibilities for new features and user experiences.
Where This Applies
- Automotive
- The automotive industry has the opportunity to leverage voice activation and streaming capabilities to enhance the driving experience and attract tech-savvy consumers.
- Music Streaming
- Music streaming platforms can capitalize on partnerships with car manufacturers to expand their user base and enhance their service by integrating with connected car technology.
- Technology
- The integration of voice control and online streaming into car stereos demonstrates the potential for technology companies to disrupt the traditional automotive and entertainment industries.
