There are three ways to have internet access in a car. First and the most popular way to do it is to have a phone that has data connection and that can be turned on as a Wi-Fi Hotspot. Everyone in the car can then access internet on their connected devices. Simple and this is what most people do when they need the Internet while travelling together. Secondly, there are the likes of CarPlay and Mirrorlink that integrate a smartphone to the car, where a touch screen in the car now acts like the touch screen of your phone with all strategically placed knobs and buttons working as 'call' and 'message' keys, allowing the driver to 'use' his smart device safely and with ease while navigating the road. The third 'internet in the car' is the Connected Car, where the car is connected directly to the data network, acting as the end device and providing a host of pre-configured internet services for the driver and the passengers while they are on board.
While the second method is seeing a host of partnerships being formed between car-makers and phone-makers, the first and the third options rely on car-makers working with service providers, resulting in the launch of operators own Connected Car solutions. One initiative launched this week is Turkcell's Connected Car Platform. Turkcell, the leading communications and technology company in Turkey with 34.8 million subscribers in the country and 70.1 million subscribers globally said in a statement that the Connected Car Platform which will be available in select Subaru and Volvo models from August onwards will enable the users to:
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Track traffic in real time and optimize the route.
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Locate and get directions to parking lots, pharmacies and gas stations.
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Get real time financial updates and locate nearby ATMs of partnering banks. Garanti Bank of Turkey is the first partner of the platform.
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Share the car’s own location information with friends, colleagues and roadside assistance.
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Stay connected to social network platforms while ensuring safety in traffic. Social media access shuts down automatically when the driving speed exceeds 10 km/hr.
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Enjoy music online with Turkcell’s live music streaming service Fizy which includes 3 million song alternatives.
The solution introduces Turkcell's existing capabilities in Connected Vehicles to passenger cars. Turkcells highlighted that they have been spearheading M2M solutions in the country, with more than 500,000 vehicles, mostly commercial, using their tracking products, delivering costs savings of more than USD500 Million. With the introduction of these service, more car makers will be integrating internet connection platforms into their models, and with the many options in doing so, we expect the 'Connected Car' to unveil a host of innovative solutions and partnerships between phone manufacturers, car makers and operators in coming months.
"Turkcell launched the first M2M SIM card in Turkey in 2011. Today, 2 out of every 3 M2M SIM cards in Turkey are issued by Turkcell. We were the first company to open M2M call center. We are excited to add another first to our M2M offerings with Turkcell’s Connected Car Platform that integrates drivers into the car ecosystem.”
- Selen Kocabas, Turkcell’s Chief Corporate Business Officer
“With its Connected Car Platform, Turkcell once again proves its global perspective in making technological solutions available to its customers. This product also fills an important void in the Turkish market – not many connected car solutions serve local needs. With this Platform, Turkcell localizes the essential information on internet for drivers through a user-friendly interface offering great customer experience.”
- Yigit Kulabas, Turkcell’s Chief Corporate Marketing Officer
