Clarion joins Nokia's Terminal Mode movement for the greater infotainment good
By Tim Stevens 
posted June 22nd 2010 8:34AM
posted June 22nd 2010 8:34AM
Clarion and Nokia Team Up on Connected Car Technology
Clarion Co., Ltd., a global leader in car audio and electronics, and Nokia Corporation, the world's leading mobile device producer today announced that they are collaborating on Terminal Mode, a technology that will enable a totally new way of mobile devices and car infotainment systems to seamlessly work together. Both companies say this collaboration will further boost the development of next-generation smart car infotainment systems.
Through this partnership Clarion aims to develop the smartphone interface that Nokia and Consumer Electronics for Automotive, CE4A are proposing as industry standard, as well as to build an application service business for in-car devices utilizing the Ovi Store application service by Nokia. Clarion is also targeting accelerated development and greater commercial dominance of in-car information systems for the Europe and North America markets where Nokia has a strong presence, as well as China and other emerging markets.
"By integrating the Terminal Mode technology into in-car information systems such as car navigation developed by Clarion, we will be able to bring to customers the vast array of applications and services available to smartphones on in-car devices. The integration of in-car devices with smartphones will provide better user experiences for consumers and lead to radical changes in in-car information systems," says Tatsuhiko Izumi, president of Clarion.
"Through a stronger collaboration with Nokia and NAVTEQ, which supplies map information for our car navigation systems in overseas markets, it will be possible to utilize smartphone functions and services for in-car information system functions and support services such as intelligent transport systems (ITS), advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and navigation coordination.
"Nokia believes that Terminal Mode is an ideal base for industry innovation, allowing existing and new kinds of services to be extended into the car," says Vesa Luiro, Automotive Director at Nokia. "We are already committed to collaboration with the automotive industry and this alliance with Clarion will further improve the user experience in the car and enable consumers to access their favourite internet services and smartphone applications, wherever they are."
About Clarion
Clarion ranked among the top 93 Global OEM parts Suppliers by Automotive News.
Clarion joined Hitachi-group as a consolidated subsidiary since 2007. Clarion, an international leader in car audio and electronics since 1940, conducts research, development, engineering, design, manufacturing, sales and marketing of vehicle entertainment, navigation, communications and security products for the automotive and recreational vehicle environments. Clarion has over 10,000 employees worldwide and 12 factories in 10 countries, with marketing and sales affiliates in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia. Clarion is located on the Web at www.clarion.com
Fugly UI!
@bo3of
There is no UI to be seen... fail.
The flux capacitor is looking slightly different recently
Not long before we are all listening to Beastie Boys on our Nokia car infotainment while being chased by a robot cop on a hover-bike
I'd bet that in the future, the car stereo is nothing more than a dock with an amplifier and speakers. We would just dock our smartphone to the sound system. The smartphone would be at the same place as where the old radio would be and we would control the whole system from there by using the screen. All the functions of the traditional radio can already be done by a smartphone. I've connected my phone by the 3.5mm jack to some loud computer speakers and there is my sound system. MP3, FM radio and streaming radio. Does anyone use CD's anymore?
@lnm4444 Plenty of people use CDs. Hell, I walked past a car a few weeks ago that had a tape deck in it. In the center console were actually a bunch of tapes!
@lnm4444 I've been doing my damnedest to move away from CD's and DVD's for years. I worked in car audio for a long time, and you could see this coming, mostly over the past 3 years, where you can buy in-dash units without CD players now, only with HDD's, USB ports, and bluetooth.
With sirius radio apps, and the like, there isn't a reason for an in-dash unit to be anymore than a built-in amp and a phone dock. I'd be happier that way, honestly (so long as i could control it with my steering wheel controls).
It would be really nice if we could get a real industry wide standard out of this.
I want a system like this for my N900, too bad there is probably no hope at least before MeeGo...
@Rev
I want a system that recognizes many manufacturers phones, also the future phones. The cycle of the car is so much longer than phone's.
@huzzlehoff
If i have undestood right, Nokia's phone-car standard is open for every manufacturers.
@Rev
I think they did a while back. Googling turned up this link where the even the Terminal Mode specs were made public for adoption as a standard:
http://www.nokia.com/terminalmode
Remind me japanese anime "Cyber Formula"
@author The reason for not seeing any products yet is the relatively long design phase in automotive component industry, especially for smth meant to be a standard. Have you ever noticed the OEM head units and navigation systems to be at least a generation behind the aftermarket ones? The whole idea of the Terminal Mode is to unify the specs for communication between the dummy car and the smart phone (or similar) to have the latest features available. Be it NFC or even BT. No more need to buy an expensive car/phone-specific dongle for music and handsfree, navigation is essential.
@author part 2: Of course you guys are feeling indifferent. It is not made by Apple. But when Apple hints that its going to release a MOUSE you guys start wetting the undies in pure excitement.
@Mr w00t
+1!
ROFLMAO
Looks like Clarion are fans for the new Star Trek movie! Now they just have to put it in a Mustang!
Keep it up Nokia!! ... Meego eco system is on the move.
I bet there are no products to show yet since it'll be based on Meego Architecture. WIP It's starting to sound pretty good though.
@vpuik
Terminal mode isn't an operating system, it's a communications API.
I tested it at Geneva motorshow and it basically transfers phones screen (the image is from Valmet's proto with N97) to the dashboard screen. I think there's ways to show car specific info on the same screen, and maybe transfer info to the phone also. At least that would be cool.
I can't find the power button.
That interior looks "Fugly" with a capital F