Subscribe

Get moving with Google

Tyson Ngubeni
By Tyson Ngubeni
Johannesburg, 26 Jun 2014
Connecting an Android phone to a car with Android Auto will be far safer than fumbling around with your phone, says Sundar Pichai, Google senior VP of Android, Chrome and apps.
Connecting an Android phone to a car with Android Auto will be far safer than fumbling around with your phone, says Sundar Pichai, Google senior VP of Android, Chrome and apps.

Google is making headway towards capitalising on a greater number of connected devices in future, having announced plans to expand its focus beyond its traditional Internet business, at its annual developer conference this week.

Enabling cars, televisions and other devices to be connected to the Web and playing a part in boosting smartphone penetration will be key to the company's strategy, said Google senior VP Sundar Pichai.

He noted more people are surrounded by multiple screens, prompting Google to explore platforms to enhance connectivity between mobile devices and television sets. The company says it will soon launch Android TV - allowing viewers to use the television sets to explore content on their mobile devices.

Cheaper devices

Google, whose Android software reigns as the world's dominant smartphone operating system, has turned its attention to markets with low penetration as it sets itself up to take advantage of a more connected world.

The tech giant says it is working with three manufacturers to develop a sub-$100 smartphone starting in India in the third quarter of the year, getting Android software into one of the fastest-growing mobile markets.

Pichai says the devices - dubbed "Android One" - will come with 4.5-inch screens, dual-SIM cards and FM radio. "We've long wondered what potential could be unleashed if people everywhere had access to the latest technology and the world's information. It's time to find out."

Research firm Gartner predicted in February that smartphone revenue would decline in coming years, as demand eases in North American and European markets, but low-cost devices in emerging markets will continue to drive sales in those regions. Google's push for low-cost devices echoes that of vendors such as Samsung, Nokia and Apple that have adopted a similar approach in Africa.

In another nod to its mobility focus, the company unveiled "Google Fit" - a platform to help users of its Android mobile software collate and keep track of health and fitness data on smart watches and other mobile devices.

Fit functions similarly to recently introduced services from Apple and Samsung. The tracking and analysis of health information is expected to be a big driver for smart watches and other sensor-laden devices this year.

In an additional development in the fitness technology sector this week, Intel announced it would acquire Performance Lab, a New Zealand company producing software for real-time exercise management and virtual coaching.

"The sports, fitness, health and wellness sectors are fuelling strong global demand for smart gadgets," said Sudheer Kuppam, MD of Intel Capital Asia Pacific.

Connected cars

Moving onto its foray into self-driving technology, Google announced at the conference that the first cars running Android Auto will hit showrooms later this year, after the company signed on 40 auto-industry partners for its car-software development alliance.

Google dabbles in connected cars, increased smartphones penetration in a bid to cash in on a more connected world
Google dabbles in connected cars, increased smartphones penetration in a bid to cash in on a more connected world

Executives demonstrated to developers how Android Auto acts like an extension of its popular mobile phone software and will be completely voice-enabled, allowing drivers to navigate maps and send messages while behind the wheel.

"Just connect your Android phone to a car with Android Auto, and you'll have what you need at your fingertips such as turn-by-turn navigation from Google Maps, your curated playlists and radio stations through Play Music, simple-to-use voice search, and reminders from Google Now," said Pichai.

He added the features will be accessible through a car's controls and are "far safer than fumbling around with your phone".

Google is one of several companies, including car manufacturers Nissan Motor, Volkswagen AG's Audi and Toyota Motor, dabbling in self-driving car technology. Both Nissan and Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler AG say they plan to start selling self-driving cars by 2020.

Share