ON ELECTRONIC ADVANCES
"Customers told us they want Blue
Link to work like their smartphone
and we've worked with Google,
Covisint and Station Digital Media
to deliver this level of functionality,"
said Barry Ratzlaf, executive director,
Customer Connect and Service
Business Development, Hyundai Motor
America. Blue Link is Hyundai's
infotainment platform. According
to a recent survey conducted by
Gallup, 62% of all Americans have a
smartphone (between 2005 and 2013,
the ownership of non-smartphones
and make it easy to digest." That's
David Holecek, connectivity brand
manager at Volvo Cars. He's talking
about Sensus Connect, an infotainment
ofering launched by Volvo. Note,
again, the ease-of-use emphasis.
Holecek also said, It's not about
ofering a thousand apps; it's about
giving you precisely what you need,
before you even knew you needed it,"
with that last part of that sentence
obviously being something of an
exaggeration. Or perhaps not. One of
the apps ofered is Connected Service
by Gary S. Vasilash
> Editor-In-Chief
fell from 78% to 45%), and 88%
of those between 18 to 29 have a
smartphone. So is it any wonder
that the smartphone is the metric by
which automotive electronics is to be
measured?
Then there's this: "It's all about giving
everyone an enjoyable, easy-to-use
and intuitive experience. There is no
point in flling a car with technology
if it comes of as overwhelming, so
our main focus is always to give our
customers the best experience available
38
AD&P; > March 2014 > FEATURE > On Electronic Advances > Gary S. Vasilash > gsv@autofeldguide.com
0314ADP FEATURE Electronics.indd 38 2/18/2014 3:30:54 PM