Samsung Electronics wants to turn even old clunkers into smart cars by plugging dongles running the Tizen OS into their diagnostics ports.
The Samsung Connect Auto dongle contains an LTE modem, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a GPS receiver and a tiny computer running Tizen, and connects to a car’s on-board diagnostic system via the OBD II port under their steering wheel. The company will show it at Mobile World Congress, which runs Monday through Thursday in Barcelona.
Samsung Electronics is helping drivers embark on a new journey through its ground-breaking connected car solution, Samsung Connect Auto. Providing benefits to consumers and businesses alike, Samsung is delivering an ecosystem of services and products to enable a safer, more eco-friendly and more fun driving experience.
onnect Auto will be available internationally, but it may take a while to reach your corner of the globe. It’ll first be available in the US, where an AT&T-based model will launch in the second quarter of the year. It’s too soon to say how well Samsung will fare. There’s no shortage of connected car add-ons, and simply having a familiar name won’t guarantee success. However, the company has lofty ambitions. It’s trying to create a whole internet-savvy car ecosystem, and it has the help of big partners like AT&T, China Unicom, Here and Orange — Samsung could ‘win’ simply by becoming the de facto choice for car technology upgrades.
Consumers gain comfort knowing their vehicle is secure, and enterprises gain productivity through fleet management capabilities and services offered by Samsung as well as partners.
Samsung Connect Auto plugs directly into the OBD II port underneath the steering wheel. It uses real-time alerts to help users improve their driving behavior, including increased fuel efficiency, while offering a Wi-Fi connection to keep passengers online while on-the-go. The solution is kept secure using Samsung KNOX , the company’s market-leading, defense-grade mobile security platform. Samsung Connect Auto provides the mass market with an affordable connected car solution that places safety and security first, while enriching in-car and out-of-car experience. Samsung Connect Auto will initially be available in the second quarter in the U.S. AT&T will be the first wireless provider of the solution in the U.S.
“We have been listening to our customers and pushing boundaries to create a connected car ecosystem that seamlessly integrates our products and partner services for a better driving experience,” said Dr. Injong Rhee, Executive Vice President and Head of R&D, Software and Services, Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics. “Through collaborations with valuable partners and experts across many industries, we are carrying out our vision of bringing IoT technology to people’s everyday lives.”
“Samsung’s willingness to work with others to create an ecosystem of true interoperability will allow it to be one of the leaders in the aftermarket connected vehicle space,” said Chris Penrose, Senior Vice President, Internet of Things, AT&T Business Solutions. “These are exciting times for connected car innovation, and we look forward to offering customers this powerful new option.”
“Orange Business Services is proud to collaborate with Samsung to jointly provide advanced IoT/M2M expertise and services to the automotive industry. This market is growing exponentially, and we are eager to contribute to the Samsung connected car ecosystem in Europe and beyond,” said Valérie Cussac, Vice President Mobile France & International, Orange.
“This new mobile distribution platform is a potential game changer that we believe will bring usage-based insurance to the mass market,” said Geoff Werner, Global Telematics Leader, Willis Towers Watson. “We are excited about collaborating with Samsung and Tantalum, leveraging our insurance analytics to encourage safer driving and help consumers get access to better insurance rates.”
“AXA is delighted to partner with Samsung in the development of a secured Connected Car ecosystem that will bring peace of mind for our customers, provide them with additional insurance and assistance services and contribute to enhance drivers’ behaviors,” said Serge Morelli, Deputy CEO of AXA Partners and CEO of AXA Assistance.
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Safety and Peace of Mind
The backbone of Samsung Connect Auto is KNOX security and Tizen OS for interoperability. Samsung KNOX provides security from the hardware through the software levels, including applications. Prioritizing security differentiates Samsung Connect Auto from competitor offerings. Developers can leverage Tizen and Samsung’s Software Development Kit (SDK) to further evolve additional services. Samsung also encourages safe driving behavior by using geo-fencing and driver rating algorithms. In the event of an accident, emergency alerts notify the driver’s contacts and accident concierge services are provided. A “Find My Car” app also helps in locating your car in real-time using LTE and GPS.
Have Fun and Be Eco-friendly
A powerful LTE Wi-Fi hotspot enables multi-user internet access that lets passengers in the car stream content and play online games. Fuel efficiency analysis helps drivers consume less fuel through the use of proprietary algorithms that analyze miles travelled, time on the road and price per gallon – a valuable feature for those in the transportation and logistics field.
Save Money and Be Productive
A virtual mechanic intelligently checks your car status from the on-board diagnostic port to recommend maintenance and repair services offered by a specialized network. This enables quick notification of performance and helps reduce repair costs.
Drivers can leverage the solution’s Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) feature by opting to share their vehicle data to receive valuable insurance offerings.
For those professionals who are often on the road, journey logs automatically generate an email report to help users track expenses while traveling for work, providing business mobility efficiency.
Partner Ecosystem
Samsung is creating a new partner ecosystem of carriers, insurance companies, roadside assistance operators and maintenance networks. Additionally, by partnering with auto manufacturers, Samsung is helping to bridge the gap between the automotive industry and the mobile world. By investing in the creation of connected car services on both sides of the market – consumers and enterprises – Samsung will continue to build valuable partner relationships that provide drivers with a premier service.
Companies currently participating as part of Samsung’s connected car ecosystem include Amdocs, AT&T, AXA, Blink by Agero, China Unicom, Cisco, Crawford & Company, Ericsson, Europcar, HERE, IBM, Jasper, Oberthur Technologies, Openbay, Orange, Tantalum and Willis Towers Watson.
Samsung Connect Auto will be on display at this year’s Mobile World Congress.
