The Mobile Industry is Invading the Automotive Industry

BlackBerry has been going through tough times recently, as more and more companies start making their own smartphone OSes instead of using BlackBerry’s outdated, fragile operating system. But, in an unexpected turn of events, BlackBerry has managed to bring its mobile experience to the automotive industry, and it’s threatening to take over the entire sector! Here’s why this could be bad news for other automakers.

Apple’s first step should be to embrace the fact that they are a mobile company and grow that instead of attempting to enter an industry (automotive) where their experience isn’t much help. As BlackBerry continues to fail, Apple has opportunity in making mobility relevant not just in-car but out of car as well. I believe there will be a rise in people wanting smartphones as their cars becomes smarter.

What did BlackBerry do differently?

BlackBerry, once a popular smartphone company, has shifted gears and built a new-age automotive company. The revolutionary BlackBerry QNX platform has found success in infotainment, telematics, and driver-assist technology–striking an early foothold in the race to compete with established players like General Motors and Toyota. In a recent interview with Bloomberg News, Alec Rubinoff, President of QNX Software Systems for BlackBerry said This isn’t just about selling hardware. He goes on to say that they are providing much more than just their software – they’re providing services too. We have an end-to-end solution, says Rubinoff.

What types of projects can you build on Apple’s iOS platform?

Apple’s iOS-based App Store, which opened in 2008, has revolutionized how people find and buy apps. Building an app for iOS means tapping into a thriving global marketplace with a community of almost 3 million registered developers who have generated about $60 billion in revenue for Apple. Plus, you’ll be able to reach 97% of all iPhone and iPad users around the world within 60 days after your app is published.

How do you embed a platform in your product?

A platform needs to work on a device that people will actually want, so for a BlackBerry car, one of the requirements was to allow drivers to do things like send texts and make phone calls. With Apple announcing CarPlay and Google announcing Android Auto in 2014, there are now plenty of options for those looking to integrate smartphone technology into their vehicles.

Why did Volkswagen choose QNX?

In 2016, Volkswagen became one of QNX’s newest clients. The car manufacturer opted for QNX after a decade of experimentation with Android, Apple and Microsoft operating systems. In an interview with Car Magazine at the time, VW Head of Engineering Hans-Jakob Neusser said that the way you can look at it is like we have our own iPhone, but for a car.