Volvo Cars will introduce Microsoft’s Skype for Business to its new 90 Series cars, the company announced Thursday.
Drivers will be able to view their upcoming meetings and participant details, as well as join meetings, with one click. The app will run on a large display.
“We’ve all been there. Sitting in the car, trying to join a conference call,” said Anders Tylman-Mikiewicz, Volvo’s vice president of consumer connectivity services, in a statement.
“You either fumble with or drop your phone while trying to connect, or you forget the long pin code to join. It’s not the best way to start an important call in the car. On top of all that, your attention is not where it should be – on the road. With the addition of Skype for Business, all that goes away.”
The Volvo-Microsoft partnership also explores the use of Cortana, Microsoft’s artificial intelligence. Drivers may be able to use Cortana for voice recognition and contextual insights.
Volvo is also working with Ericsson to provide cloud-based solutions for customers.
“In-car communication is something that we have worked with for years at Volvo,” said Tylman-Mikiewicz. “From the built-in handsets of the 1980s and early 90s through to our standard Bluetooth hands-free functionality, we have understood the importance of making life easier for people on the move while keeping a firm focus on safety and minimizing driver distraction.”
