Juniper Research Expects In-Vehicle Apps to Hit 269 million by 2018, Operators To Benefit

As more cars become connected, the use of in-vehicle apps is expected to surge as users try to replicate their mobile experiences in their cars by using a wide variety of applications that provide not only the information they need while they are driving, but also various other information, entertainment and communication services including music streaming, access to social media and location based services. In addition, drivers also realize the benefits of being able to access information relating to their car's performance and condition, and being able to use this information to better maintain their vehicles and save on insurance costs. 

Juniper Research, provider of research and analytical services for high technology communications sector estimates the number of in-vehicle apps to grow 5 times from 2013 to 2018, reaching 269 million. In its report entitled Connected Cars: Consumer & Commercial Telematics and Infotainment 2014-2018, Juniper said that growth is driven by the rise in built-in digital interfaces in vehicles such as Apple's Car Play and open platforms such as MirrorLink.

The in-vehicle apps will also receive an additional boost from the advancements in the billing systems which allow different applications to be billed separately, for example car telematics being billed to the auto-makers via a subscription model and in-vehicle infortainment services billed to the end-users. Juniper added that regulatory requirements will also impact the take up of certain in-vehicle apps such as telematics apps, and cited the eCall driver safety project and Brazil's regulation Contran 245 which governs stolen vehicles as examples of regulatory initiatives that will lead to a higher demand for such apps in certain jurisdictions.