Is your car iPodified?

By Davey Winder
Monday, 20 October 2008 19:36

Entertainment

Automobile manufacturers are driving to accelerate sales by upping the ante as far as compelling technology extras are concerned. High on the demands of most car consumers is iPodification...

A new study reveals that 39 percent of the cars sold in the United States this year feature some way of getting music out of an iPod and into the automobile, next year it will move above half of all car models for the first time.

At least it solves the embarrassment of having to power your iPod with your breasts while driving.

Moving swiftly back on-topic, according to the iSuppli Automotive Technology Availability Index 58 percent of all car models in the US will have iPod integration available as a factory fit feature. What's more, a third of vehicles will also offer optional USB interfaces for other personal media players.

In 2008 the USB option was available on just 16 percent of the available cars and, along with the iPodification factor, reflects the greater emphasis that is being placed upon technology by automobile manufacturers.

"The automotive industry is at the point where in-vehicle technologies, or the lack of them, are influencing sales" confirms iSuppli VP of Automotive Research, Phil Magney. "The charge toward greater technological integration has been led by car OEMs like Hyundai and Honda, which are making USB/iPod combination interfaces standard on many of their vehicles" he added.

Not forgetting Audi and Mercedes, of course, which are offering their Germanic take on Media Device Gateways to allow pretty much any media device to be integrated with their cars.

The report also reveals that automotive love spreads further than just the iPod and USB connectivity, Bluetooth is also hot to trot. This year Bluetooth availability in new US cars was at an impressive 55 percent. That is set to rise to an incredible 82 percent next year if you include optional as well as factory fit items.

"These days, nearly every mobile device offers some Bluetooth connectivity, whether it is simple Hands Free Profile (HFP) or more advanced profiles like Audio/Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) or Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP)" Mark Boyadjis, an automotive analyst with iSuppli commented.