Rogers, Sprint sign in-car infotainment deal
By Adnews Staff
Rogers Communications of Toronto has formed an agreement with US-based telecommunications company Sprint to introduce an in-car information and entertainment service in Canada. Under the terms of the agreement, auto manufacturers installing Sprint Velocity systems into Canadian cars will make use of Rogers wireless networks to connect to the service. Sprint Velocity launched in the United States last year.
The Sprint Velocity service will use a dashboard-mounted touchscreen to offer news, weather, sports and other information, as well as navigation assistance, climate control, security, emergency services and vehicle diagnostics. The service will also provide connectivity for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
"Canadians want to be connected from anywhere, at any time, and with over twenty million vehicles on the road in Canada there is a strong growth opportunity for Rogers in the connected auto segment," said Mansell Nelson, vice-president of advanced business solutions at Rogers. "Sprint Velocity will bring to Canada the ultimate connected car experience on the road, with a combination of smartphone, tablet and in-dash capabilities, while also delivering safety features and communicating vehicle maintenance information seamlessly to manufacturers."