The INRIX OpenCar platform is bringing more content providers to the voice-activated dashboards of drivers looking for an ever-connected experience inside their vehicles.
Kirkland, Wash.-based INRIX announced this week that an additional 20 partners will integrate their applications with OpenCar. This includes agreements with Amazon Alexa (which was announced in January), Audiobooks.com, Bookatable, Dash Radio, Dar.fm, Glympse, INRIX Traffic, Napster, Nest, NPR, ParkMe, Parkmobile, PayByPhone, Philips Hue, Rivet Radio, Slacker Radio, Stitcher, Wcities and Yelp.
INRIX previously said that Alexa will be the voice interface controlling a host of OpenCar services such as Amazon Music and INRIX Driver Services, which helps drivers get information on traffic, parking and road weather conditions.
OpenCar was created to improve the ease and safety with which drivers can interact with in-car apps. INRIX says automakers gain access to a “scalable and customizable solution with brand-, model- and region-specific interfaces.”
“INRIX is transforming the connected car by bringing in more content and enabling drivers to do more with it,” Joe Berry, vice president of OpenCar at INRIX, said in a statement. “The rapid expansion of the OpenCar application ecosystem to include a variety of popular, easy-to-use apps is a huge win for automakers, our content partners and drivers everywhere.”
The connection between home and smartphone and auto allows users to seamlessly use apps to stream entertainment and get real-time information.
Darryl Wood, vice president of engineering at Napster, said the company was “thrilled” to integrate with OpenCar because 92 percent of Napster subscribers around the world enjoy streaming music in their cars.
And Yelp’s Chad Richard, VP of business and corporate development, said OpenCar “mashes up Yelp’s local smarts with driver services such as real-time traffic and parking to help drivers get to great local businesses in the best way possible.”
