Companies showcase continued momentum with new
app experiences
HARMAN, alongside CARIAD, the automotive software company of
Volkswagen Group, today announced new collaborations across key
industries to enrich the in-cabin experience with newly available
apps. This expands the range of apps available in the Group
Application Store, a uniform in-car application store for cars of
the Volkswagen Group brands, to more than 70 depending on the model
and market. The Group Application Store integrates with the HARMAN
Ignite Store, a solution for automotive infotainment systems that
allows OEMs to maintain control of third-party content, the user
experience and relationship with the end user. Audi has already
implemented the store in select Audi models and regions from model
year 2024 onwards and will also integrate it in the all-new Audi Q6
e-tron that will start coming to customers this August, with
additional Volkswagen Group brands to follow. Both HARMAN and
CARIAD will showcase the Group Application Store to the Android
Developer community at DroidCon Berlin from July 3-5.
New apps soon available in the Group Application Store
include:
- Booking.com – The Booking.com app helps users find great
hotel or apartment deals and book in just a few minutes. Users can
also book flights, rental cars, and more through the app.
- Eventseeker – Eventseeker is a personalized in-car event
service designed to minimize search time and maximize discovery.
The app provides detailed information on concerts, sports, theater,
comedy, festivals, and cultural events in any city. Whether you're
new to a city or a local, Eventseeker uses your music preferences
to recommend events tailored to your interests, no matter where you
are.
- Livil – The "In-Car Messenger" from livil offers drivers
access to all their favorite communication and work channels in one
integrated app. Utilizing voice and assisted by Gen AI, the
driver’s typical communication processes are streamlined and
semi-automated.
- Shelly Smart Control – The Shelly Smart Control app
offers customers a seamless IoT experience for enhanced automation
control and precise monitoring of all Shelly devices from around
the world. The application allows users to keep track of their
current energy usage with ease and get a forecast of their monthly
electricity bills for better budgeting.
- Tennis TV – Tennis TV is ATP Media’s direct-to-consumer
streaming service—which first launched in 2006—and delivers a rich
experience to a global audience of tennis fans, all-year-round from
every ATP Tour tournament. Users can live stream up to 2,500
matches a year—all available as full replays on-demand—plus, match
highlights, classic matches dating back to 1990 and behind the
scenes interviews and features. Watch live and on-demand, with a
subscription, on computers, mobile & tablets, Smart TVs and
other streaming devices—and now in your Audi.
HARMAN is collaborating with additional companies to offer even
more apps in the future, including:
- Bloomberg – HARMAN and Bloomberg are collaborating to
expand the ways Bloomberg audiences can stay informed. The
Bloomberg app allows users to listen to Bloomberg Radio, podcasts
and text-to-audio stories from Bloomberg.com on their display
screens in compatible cars.
- Microsoft – HARMAN is collaborating with Microsoft to
bring new content and experiences to the HARMAN Ignite Store.
Together, both companies are kicking off their collaboration by
bringing Microsoft Teams experiences to automotive through a web
conferencing app that HARMAN has built and directly connects users
to Teams meetings through the in-vehicle calendar.
The HARMAN Ignite Store is a safe and secure automotive
platform, fully compliant with Android Automotive Operating System
(AAOS) standards that connects OEMs with developers to provide
consumers unique in-vehicle digital experiences. Consumers can
connect with their favorite digital services in the car, through an
intuitive, safe and secure interface. With the HARMAN Ignite Store,
OEMs and developers can realize lucrative digital revenue streams
via new business models while creating a stand-out and personalized
driver experience for their customers. With a legacy of extensive
automotive expertise, HARMAN provides Android developers with the
resources needed to enter and thrive in the automotive market.
Together with CARIAD, it’s easier than ever for developers to join
the Volkswagen Group ecosystem and leverage the combined expertise
of both leading companies.
“As a fully compliant Android Automotive OS app store, HARMAN
Ignite Store continues to bring new app experiences into the
vehicle, delivering on what consumers expect today,” said Jens
Beckmann, Senior Director and Business Lead for Store & FOD at
HARMAN International. “Our growing ecosystem of apps spans diverse
sectors, ensuring there is something for everyone.”
Located at the City Cube Berlin, HARMAN and CARIAD will be
on-site at DroidCon Berlin at booth 18 showcasing the latest
innovations and highlighting how strategic collaborations are
driving the automotive industry forward.
For more information on the HARMAN Ignite Store, including
specific platform capabilities and submitting an APK, visit
https://car.harman.com/solutions/harman-ignite/store.
App providers share their enthusiasm for this collaboration:
Mark van der Linden, VP Partnerships, Booking.com: “Here at
Booking.com, we are proud to make our app available to more
travelers, thanks to our collaboration with CARIAD and HARMAN.
We’re providing users with the convenience of booking flights,
accommodations, and more on-the-go.”
“With Eventseeker, we're thrilled to unlock a world of event
possibilities right from your vehicle,” said Fraser Campbell, CEO
at Wcities. “Imagine discovering events tailored to your location
and musical tastes, transforming your day, evening, or weekend into
something extraordinary. Thanks to the HARMAN Ignite Store and its
seamless development capabilities, we're able to offer experiences
that were previously out of reach. It's all about making every
moment more enjoyable and exciting.”
“The livil team is happy to collaborate and innovate with both
CARIAD and HARMAN,” said Nils Frers, CEO at livil. “With livil's
‘In-Car Messenger,’ drivers of Volkswagen Group vehicles will
receive first access to the platform which has been purpose-built
around the opportunities and requirements unique to driving.”
“The seamless integration of our Shelly Smart Control app within
HARMAN Ignite Store enables customers to have the ultimate
automation experience. As a result of our partnership, millions of
users can enjoy our advanced application via the familiar user
interface of their vehicle's own infotainment system,” said
Wolfgang Kirsch, CEO of Shelly Group.
Raj Paul, Senior Director, Manufacturing and Mobility Industry
at Microsoft said, “We’re pleased to collaborate with HARMAN Ignite
Store and CARIAD to address the needs of hybrid workers. A new
integration between the companies allows HARMAN to provide safe use
of Microsoft Teams meeting functionality while on the road.”
“ATP Media is delighted to be working with CARIAD and HARMAN,
two companies who share a similar ethos to ATP Media of striving
for technological advancement, to be able to bring Tennis TV to
even more tennis fans,” said Stuart Taylor, Director of Consumer
Streaming at ATP Media. “As the direct to consumer streaming
service of the ATP Tour, Tennis TV is always looking for ways to
grow the game for fans, broadcast partners and other stakeholders
and having Tennis TV available via the HARMAN Ignite Store is a
great step forward.”
ABOUT HARMAN
HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and
solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide,
including connected car systems, audio and visual products,
enterprise automation solutions; and services supporting the
Internet of Things. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman
Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®,
HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment
venues where they perform around the world. More than 50 million
automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and
connected car systems. Our software services power billions of
mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated and
secure across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile.
HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 30,000 people across the
Americas, Europe, and Asia. In March 2017, HARMAN became a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240703526387/en/
Jessica Sader Communications Manager, Automotive
jessica.sader@harman.com