Connected cars rely on millions of lines of code to operate which requires software. There are several software companies that cater to automakers to provide the backhaul behind all the connected car and advanced safety features that are exponentially expanding the way we use cars. After examining social media mentions, databases and other analytics, the following companies were nominated for the AUTO Connected Car News’ Tech CARS Award for Best Backhaul Software or Development Platform for Automakers. After the nominations were posted all the software companies were contacted and asked to submit a few paragraphs about their software/services. Here are their replies in the order they were received. If we did not receive a reply we used copy from their websites or news releases.
QNX
For more than 30 years, QNX Software Systems, a subsidiary of BlackBerry Limited, has established itself as a leading provider of operating systems, middleware, and development tools for connected embedded systems. It powers systems in automobiles, medical devices, industrial automation systems, network routers, and other mission- or life-critical applications for global leaders such as Audi, Siemens, General Electric, Cisco, and Lockheed Martin.
QNX software has been deployed in the infotainment and telematics systems of more than 60 million vehicles, in brands such as Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Toyota, and Volkswagen. Recent examples include the virtual cockpit in the Audi TT, the entertainment system in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe, the OnStar 4G LTE system for GM, and the new Ford SYNC 3 system. A report from IHS Automotive named QNX as the premier infotainment software supplier, with more than 50 percent market share.
And now, with this unique safety-critical history and automotive pedigree, BlackBerry’s QNX Software Systems is primed to lead the automotive industry into its next big evolution – advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving.
The QNX OS for Safety is assessed to be compliant with two functional safety standards: ISO 26262 at ASIL D and IEC 61508 SIL3. It provides a reliable platform on which application developers can build safety critical systems that must meet the most stringent functional safety requirements in a variety of markets including, automotive, industrial automation, energy generation and railway transportation.
QNX will displaying a new concept car at CES.
Covisint
The Covisint Cloud Platform enables enterprises to share trusted information between people, systems, and things. Anywhere. It is the only Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) that combines foundational technologies for rapid development, operation, and securing of IoT apps. The platform enables enterprises to connect and collect data from millions of devices, then securely distribute trusted information to stakeholders. Organizations can then spend less time building infrastructure and more time focusing on apps that engage their customers, optimize their value chain, and transform their business.
Through Covisint’s Connected Vehicle solution, vehicle manufacturers are able to enhance the consumer’s connected driving experience and gain a competitive edge with customers, improving customer experience and brand loyalty.
Hyundai leveraged the secure and scalable Covisint Platform to deliver a solution that integrated the vast amount of data that can be connected to and about their vehicles for the Blue Link application.
Airbiquity
Airbiquity’s Choreo platform orchestrates and delivers end-to-end services from the cloud for millions of vehicles around the world. Choreo technology and Airbiquity integration expertise powers continuous service delivery and rapidly increasing capacity needs of connected car program today—and in the future.OpenCar
OpenCar announced the OpenCar Connect framework at CES. After three years of work, the framework has the core functions for automakers to build, test and deploy infotainment and telematics applications and Human Machine Interaction (HMI) features. Developers develop apps which are then skinned with the automakers design style.
OpenCar has an easy-to-use SDK that can utilize vehicle data without specialized knowledge of each vehicle’s CAN bus, ECUs, or automotive software stack. OpenCar has IoT device connectivity enabling in-car and remote cameras, smartwatches, external sensors, home automation and monitoring infrastructure.
OpenCar launched its new InsideTrack portal, the industry’s first collaboration and software development lifecycle (SDLC) management service for developers of infotainment applications. InsideTrack provides automakers, their tier 1 suppliers and content providers with a common platform to build powerful automotive applications for new cars, and to distribute & maintain applications via over-the-air updates over the life of each vehicle.
OpenCar is used for the Mazda Connect infotainment system. OpenCar has app partners Stitcher, Parkopedia, WCities, Glympse and others.
Now that you know about the companies, you are welcome to vote for your favorite.