Tap-to-Pair Smartphone Tech Coming in 2016
Pairing a phone to your car’s infotainment system can be a fairly cumbersome and lengthy process, but new technology is on the way that will make bluetooth pairing a snap … make that a tap.
This is possible thanks to near-field communication (NFC) which is currently used in Apple Pay, a feature on iPhones that allow users to pay for a purchase with a tap of their phone. Those familiar with car-sharing services like car2go and DriveNow will recognize the same NFC technology that allows cars to be unlocked via a membership card.
Automotive News reports that NXP Semiconductors, a Netherlands-based company is beginning to offer this kind of technology to automotive clients. It includes a first-of-its-kind controller chip that can support numerous functions, such as climate control and seat adjustment.
NFC technology is expected to become a standard feature in smartphones with IHS estimating that 416 million handsets with the technology will be shipped globally in 2014. Additionally they estimate that number will rise to 1.2 billion by 2018.
The cost of this technology is said to be just a couple of dollars per vehicle, though that price could increase if additional functions are needed. Tier 1 suppliers and automakers are set to launch this technology as soon as 2016. Expect the functionality to be limited; it’s likely you’ll only be able to pair your phone with the car’s infotainment system.
[Source: Automotive News]
Sami has an unquenchable thirst for car knowledge and has been at AutoGuide for the past six years. He has a degree in journalism and media studies from the University of Guelph-Humber in Toronto and has won multiple journalism awards from the Automotive Journalist Association of Canada. Sami is also on the jury for the World Car Awards.
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