IMPORTANT NEWS: National Electric Vehicle Sweden has agreed to buy the assets of Saab Automobile and the sale is expected to be finalized during the summer.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Cybercom will contribute to IQon

Earlier this month at the Geneva Motor Show we were introduced to Saab's upcoming IQon infotainment system. This is a system based on Google's Android OS. IDG.se writes that the company Cybercom will contribute to the development of this system. Below is a translation of the article from IDG and Cybercom's press release.


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Cybercom gets assignment from Saab
IT consulting company Cybercom will develop an open infotainment system based on Android for the next generation of Saab cars.

Infotainment is a combined information and entertainment.

Cybercom will develop software for a system where car buyers can make their own personal infotainment system via a personal portal on the home PC or directly into the car.

The car owner will thus be able to download applications for news, Internet radio, streaming music services, navigation services or audio books.

Ingmar Bengtsson, Business Manager at Cybercom Sweden, would not disclose how much the project is worth in Swedish currency. However, the project will employ between 10 and 20 consultants at Cybercom in 2011.

- But it is a big project for us, he says. And with this project Saab becomes an important and large customer.

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And here is Cybercom's press release translated:

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Cybercom develops infotainment system with Saab

Cybercom develops along with Saab an open infotainment systems for the next generation of Saab cars. Saab is expected to be the first in the Western world to industrialize Android, and at the same time the project puts Cybercom in the forefront in terms of connected cars.

 - The infotainment system we develop together with Cybercom is an important part of the Saab cars we will sell in a few years. The open solution we develop for connecting the car shows Saab's strong power of innovation, says Niclas Lindmark, project manager at Saab Automobile.

Cybercom helps Saab to develop the software for a system where car buyers can create their own personal infotainment system via their personal portal on the home PC or directly into the car. The car owner can access services that currently they normally only can access via mobile phone, computer or TV. In the car the driver will be able to download applications that provide access to news and other services such as Internet radio, streaming music services, various navigation services and content services such as audio books.

- With this project Saab is a large and important customer for us. In cooperation with Saab, we combine innovative power in the mobile phone industry with the automotive industry's technological expertise, says Ingmar Bengtsson, Business Manager at Cybercom Sweden.

Saab is the first in the Western world to industrialize Android, and totally unique in making the system this open. The idea is that third-party vendors will provide much of the functionality of the infotainment system. Developers who today make applications for Android, or surf boards, can very easy adapt their applications into the car and further develop new and existing applications based the infotainment platform.

In addition, Saab will be able to work directly with car owner and continuously offer new services that Cybercom partners develop.