Siemens and Microsoft team up on in-vehicle computing
Interesting story came out today here. It's interesting for a few reasons:
- Siemens VDO (the automotive unit) will build solutions for Auto OEMs on Microsoft's consumer focused, in-vehicle computing platform. This platform is often called, Windows Automotive, but here is called Microsoft Automotive. (And formerly called Windows Mobile for Automotive). Not sure yet if this is another "real" name change or not. The first products will be available in 2009.
- Conceptually, you can think of this as quite similar to the relationship that Microsoft has today with the many, many ISVs and system builders that build solutions on the Windows, .Net, Windows Mobile, Windows Live, and Office platforms. Siemens VDO is like an ISV or system builder in this sense. Of course, as one of the very first, they have more influence than most ISVs in the enterprise and consumer software spaces would have today.
- The article reminds us of that Continental is buying Siemens VDO. After their purchase of Motorola's automotive business a while back, they are turning into a real powerhouse of automotive computing.
- That's probably good for Continental. I've blogged before on the rising importance of software and computing within the vehicle. The article adds more evidence of this, citing expected growth of 42% ($38B to $54B) over the next 5 years just for the automotive infotainment part. And of course, the percent of in-vehicle part of that number that is software (vs. hardware) will continue to go through the roof, IMO.
Other thoughts?
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About john.mullinax
John Mullinax is a Platform Strategy Advisor with Microsoft's DPE Team. Before joining Microsoft in 2006, John held a vartiety of positions at Ford Motor Company, most recently leading IT services strategy to support explosive business growth in China. Other positions included: Enterprise Architect, Application Portfolio Management, Technology Governance, and Product Manager. Prior to joining Ford, John earned his MBA at the University of Washington. Before that, he was Director of Elections for Douglas County, Washington, where he conducted the first Federal mail-ballot election in the USA. Subsequently, he joined the Secretary of State's office as a consultant working with county election officials in Washington state to improve operational effectiveness, integrity, and security (aka, to prevent the kind of debacle we saw in Florida in 2000).
