Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) has expressed its interest in venturing into connected cars despite the tight competition from its rivals, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google. However, the tech giant will not meet its interests without a little bit of support from various automakers. That said, it has enlisted a patent deal with Toyota.
In the patent, the Japanese auto giant will include offering its services the likes of voice recognition features, entertainment, and navigation. Toyota is the first company to undertake the new program. However, it is inviting other automotive giants to follow suit, which it insists will speed up the development of future connected cars.
The company had unveiled a connected car program three years ago
It is not the first time that Microsoft is getting into the industry of connected cars. However, its first attempt failed miserably given that many car makers did not respond positively. Around the same time, Apple and Google had their auto technology on point. Nonetheless, the company is optimistic of succeeding in its second attempt.
“The connected car represents an enormous opportunity for the auto industry, and at the core, it’s a software challenge,” says Microsoft’s Peggy Johnson, the executive vice president of business development
Through its mission, the company also hopes to empower car makers with technology, which will enable them to focus on building and offering impressive driving experiences.
Microsoft’s new patent program is a reminder that it too has a vast range of technologies
Microsoft does not build cars, but it does insist that it has a lot to offer to car manufacturers with the new patent program just being the beginning. The company says it has been working with Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F), BMW, Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), and Nissan Motor Co Ltd (ADR)(OTCMKTS:NSANY) for decades. Apparently, Tesla has been using a few of Microsoft’s HoloLens engineers
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Microsoft has a vast range of technologies according to chief IP counsel of Microsoft’s intellectual property group, Erich Andersen. Thus the new agreement will help in fostering a working relationship between the two. It is also an indication of how Microsoft intends to support the auto industry.
