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| A car in Microsoft's future?
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20/8/04 |
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Microsoft has announced a new joint venture with the US Center for Automotive Research, to conduct a series of annual surveys designed to focus on key trends in the automotive industry.
An initial survey will, according to John Fikany, head of Microsoft's automotive 'vertical' market, focus on three issues, including warranties. The car industry is, he claimed, desperate to cut what amounts to a $22 billion annual cost - about $2000 a vehicle in warranty claims, including failures to the increasing array of on-board ITS/telematics equipment.
Microsoft, which already dominates demand for factory floor control software, is making a major assault on the U.S. auto industry. Its MSN Auto site is one of the larger online retail outlets and the company is hoping to expand its role in the vehicle with a push into telematics.
Its most recent move in this direction was the signing of an agreement to provide all the navigation and other telematics software for the struggling Italian automaker, Fiat, beginning in 2005. Amongst the applications expected to make an appearance are hands-free phoning and remote diagnostics based on Microsoft's Windows Automotive software platform. The move is expected to reduce the cost of providing a range of telematic services for both Fiat and its customers.
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