We already know that Google aspires to get Android into vehicles, and right now the company intends to use Android Auto to execute that vision. According to a new rumor, though, Google’s got even grander plans to get its green robot into cars.
Sources speaking to Reuters say that Google is working on a new version of Android that’ll be loaded directly into a vehicle, eliminating the need for a connected Android smartphone like with Android Auto. It’s said that Google is currently planning to include built-in car functionality with Android M, which is expected to debut in 2015.
Integrating Android directly into a car has many benefits over requiring an Android smartphone to be connected to use the OS’s feature set. For example, the Android software would always be available without the user having to worry about remembering their phone or checking their device’s battery level, and Google could also gather more information about a driver’s usage if the Android software is always on and always present.
Of course, building Android directly into a car would require convincing car makers to go along with the plan, and I’m betting that they’d need some more convincing to go along with Google’s plan. There’s also Apple, who would likely work hard to prevent such deep in-car Android integration.
What do you think of today’s rumor? Would you like to have Android deeply integrated into your vehicle?
