Fiat Joins Microsoft in a Wireless Partnership

bizpile writes "The AP is reporting that Microsoft and Fiat have gotten together to develop a system of wireless communications into Fiat's vehicles. The goal of the alliance, announced Thursday, is to create a flexible, easy-to-use telematics system (think OnStar from General Motors) for Fiat and its Lancia and Alfa Romeo brands sold in Europe, the companies said."

Re:Bluetooth and wireless

[Zawash]

Last year Mercedes declined [tomshardware.com] to add bluetooth to any of their 2003 and 2004 models - so they should be safe, I guess. Fiat cars thus seem to be a bit more unsafe.. ;)

Fiat Auto is a company in trouble

[bojanb]

And not because of Microsoft (yet). The article states that they are hoping to halve their operating losses to 500 million euros this year. Which means their loss in 2003 was (gasp!) 1 billion euros. Which I guess is why Microsoft was able to 'partner' with them. Fiat gets the technology for free, and Microsoft gains an entry into the market.
And the technology is nothing revolutionary. It's basically a Bluetooth connection to "integrate cell phones and PDAs with the onboard system" (??) and an USB connection so you can play your iPod music on the car's audio system.

Sure there'll be lots of jokes, but...

[Aphrika]

Look at it a different way; Microsoft is a billions of dollars a year company that wants to try out something new. They have the clout and (some might argue this) the expertise to try it.

New markets, new areas like this will have a lot of problems that need to be solved, and although we love to hate them, MS's millions being injected into this will be a good thing, make other people sit up and take notice and - most importantly - improve on it.

Re:MS marketing = Apple marketing?

[foidulus]

jebus, can't MS have ONE ORIGINAL THOUGHT? Apple partners with BMW/Voltswagon and now MS has to find a car manufacturer to partner with. Not bashing for bashing's sake, but man, can't they just come up with SOMETHING on their own once in a while?
RTFA, they are leeching an idea, but it's not off Apple. Apple's partnership was to promote iPod music in the car. MS is leeching off GM's onstar this time...

Re:Cars and Complexity

[Aranel]

In the case of a crash I don't want an stupid clip to appear and ask me if I want that the airbag is released. I've actually seen quite a few crashed Fiats (quite a few nasty ones), and I've only seen one where the airbag has actually gone off. Maybe MS might be able to do something useful and actually *make* the airbags go off when the car crashes (although knowing MS, the airbags would probably go off at will, while you are driving down the motorway)

Re:Ferrari and Formula 1

[Apreche]

F1 cars don't run windows. They run very specialized very specific software that has to be inspected and approved by the FIA. I can pretty much guarantee that neither Windows or Linux will ever run on a Formula Machine.

Also, the fact that Ferrari wins every time shows how true a sport F1 is. The idea of a competition is to determine who is the best at a particular sport. But if you look at something like Baseball or Football there are too many other factors. If the best team plays the worst team the worst team might win once in awhile. But in F1 the best team wins every time. The other teams just need to get off their ass and make a decent car. Although it is kind of hard to compete with a Ferrari. That's because it's fucking FERRARI. Maybe if Lambourghini made F1 cars they could compete. Oh wait, Lambourghini's can't steer. Oh well.

Maybe they should just put 20 Ferraris out on the track and see who the best driver is...

Re:Cars and Complexity

[16K Ram Pack]

Not unlike computers. Once upon a time, operating systems were very simple, and worked very reliably.

And I don't have a problem with lots of individual computers doing things for non-essential purposes like sat nav. Engine management systems also use them.

But, there's a lot of stuff that is in cars that I don't want because it's gimmicky and unneccessary. Some cars now have automatic lights and wipers. Thanks, but I know when it's dark, and raining. A computer just adds the possibility of no lights, no wipers and a huge repair bill.