Do you fancy surfing in your car?
Posted by Fiona Birkwood
The rapid rise of the smartphone and tablet computers, as well as the continued popularity of the humble laptop, has led to more and more people requiring constant access to the internet to go about their daily business.
One place that people spend a lot of time, particularly those that travel for their work, is the car – an environment where the internet has traditionally not been available, but things are set to change, thanks to a range of new technology.
The demand for in-car internet access is beginning to rise rapidly and some organisations expect Wi-Fi and 3G connections to be the norm in the near future.
A survey conducted by KPMG recently found that more than a third of 200 car executives believe that "infotainment" in cars is now almost as important as car safety.
It also found that 34 per cent of industry leaders believe that consumer purchasing decisions over the next five years will be driven by a car's internet connectivity and built-in technologies.
It is expected that drivers will have access to a variety of in-car gadgets in the near future as car firms are rumoured to be thinking about joining forces with music, telecoms and IT companies, as well as seeking advice from the likes of Google, Apple, Microsoft and LG among others to increase their in-car offerings.
John Leech, head of Automative at KPMG, said that the collaboration recently announced by Toyota and Intel could become a regular occurrence.
"Intel claims that the connected car is the third-fastest growing technological device, following smartphones and tablets. For a car maker that offers huge potential."
Audi is one of the leading firms in this sphere and has developed a built-in 3G wireless connection in its A7 and it has announced plans to extend it to other new models.
