HispanicBusiness

On Monday, Livio announced it would expand the apps available to its partner automakers, some of which provide weather updates (Accuweather), information on nearby parking (Parkopedia) and the ability for in-car FM radio listeners to contact radio stations and their sponsors through Bluetooth-connected smartphones (FM Connect).

Livio Connect, and other systems that sync vehicle controls with phones' connectivity to the cloud, are capable of importing almost any app consumers are using on their mobile devices into a car's infrastructure. But automakers are gatekeeping. Activities that could distract drivers, such as watching a TV show on Hulu or playing "Angry Birds" on the center console screen while the vehicle is moving, aren't enabled.

Car companies are allowing only apps that safely enhance the driving experience, such as audio, navigation, real-time traffic rerouting and searches for points of interest, along with even more-cutting-edge technologies that send information the other way - from the car, through the cloud, to the car's owner, even when he isn't in the driver's seat.

Computer microprocessor maker Intel is working with automakers such as BMW, Hyundai, Nissan and Toyota to enable their vehicles' cameras and sensors to notify a driver's smartphone if something has happened to the car while the driver was away. Intel has also developed a system that securely pairs cars with smartphones so they can be used as virtual keys for remote entry, similar to traditional fobs. On a more personal level, Intel's intelligent car system also can access cellphones' contact lists and alert drivers when someone they know is nearby.

Cellphone and automotive technologies are moving so speedily, and are fragmented among so many different devices and manufacturers, that there's a real risk of technologies becoming incompatible from one vehicle or manufacturer to the next. To ensure that smartphones from competing manufacturers can integrate with cars' built-in systems, a coalition of automakers, smartphone vendors and makers of display technologies called the Car Connectivity Consortium have created MirrorLink, a technology standard for operating smartphones with steering wheel controls and dashboard buttons and screens that works across competing platforms. General Motors, Toyota and Volkswagen are among the 80 percent of global automakers who are part of the consortium, along with 70 percent of the world's smartphone vendors, including LG and Nokia, but not Apple.

In the future, phones are likely to enable even more safety features. It won't be long before cellphones alert drivers to, and direct them from, dangers they can't yet see and communicate among moving cars to prevent them from colliding.

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SMARTPHONE APPLICATIONS IN CARS:

Aha Radio:

-What it does: Organizes drivers' favorite Internet content, including radio channels, news, music, audio books, social media feeds and podcasts.

-Available in: Ford vehicles equipped with Sync AppLink, including Mustang, Fiesta, F-150 and Expedition.

BeCouply:

-What it does: Suggests date ideas and directs couples to their destinations with turn-by-turn navigation.

-Available in: Ford vehicles equipped with Sync AppLink, including Mustang, Fiesta, F-150 and Expedition.

BringGo:

-What it does: Provides full-function navigation, including turn-by-turn directions.

-Available in: Future versions of the Chevrolet Spark and Sonic.

Glympse:

-What it does: Allows drivers to share their location information with family and friends via email, SMS, Facebook or Twitter using voice commands.

-Available in: Ford vehicles equipped with Sync AppLink, including Mustang, Fiesta, F-150 and Expedition.

Kaliki:

-What it does: Reads select magazines and local newspapers in a real human voice.

-Available in: Ford vehicles equipped with Sync AppLink, including Mustang, Fiesta, F-150 and Expedition.

Parkopedia:

-What it does: Provides information on nearby parking garages, including pricing and real-time space availability, as well as navigation to get there.

-Available in: Livio Connect-enabled vehicles.

Rhapsody:

-What it does: Lets drivers access any of the service's 16 million songs through their phones, or listen without a connection by downloading a playlist to a mobile device accessible through the car.

-Available in: Ford vehicles equipped with Sync AppLink, including Mustang, Fiesta, F-150 and Expedition.

Siri:

-What it does: Allows drivers to get things done while driving by asking the Apple iPhone intelligent assistant.

-Available in: Future versions of the Chevrolet Spark and Sonic and future Hyundai models.

TuneIn:

-What it does: Streams audio from a global network of 70,000 radio stations; a listener in California could listen to an Afrobeat station in Nigeria.

-Available in: 2013 Chevrolet Spark and future versions of the Sonic.

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