LG U+ has entered the global market of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Connected Cars. The company is exporting the service overseas, too, in collaboration with a small domestic company. The Connected Car is a future vehicle that is connected to information and communications technology (ICT), allowing a driver to utilize the Internet and mobile services.
LG U+ announced on Feb. 23 that it inked a supply deal for its smartphone mirroring system for automobiles, the Car Link, which the company developed with Ubridge.
Starting with a supply deal to the Middle East, LG U+ is planning to expand export further to other countries and increase its presence in the global smart car business market, along with Google’s Android Auto and Apple’s Car Play. LG U+ Vice Chairman Lee Sang-chul previously said, “The development of IT is changing the concept of cars. Future vehicles will be evolved into private spaces specifically customized for individuals” at CES 2015.
The Car Link is based on a “mirroring” service, which enables a driver to bring up his smartphone interface on the vehicle's navigation screen, listen to his smartphone, and control it. This is the technology that links main services and functions of the smartphone with the vehicle by showing the screen of the mobile device on different display devices.
In short, the driver can use various smartphone functions conveniently on the larger screen of the navigation system in the vehicle multitasking phone calls, video clips, music, and SNS. Moreover, it offers a wireless mirroring service, which is the Car Link’s distinct advantage.
Particularly, the overseas export of the Car Link is more meaningful because it is the result of coexistence with smaller businesses. LG U+ and Korean IT solutions developer Ubridge succeeded in the co-development of the Car Link, the wireless mirroring service for its domestic consumer vehicles, last September.
Park Joon-dong, head of the LG U+ content business division, said, “With the overseas export business of the Car Link, both LG U+ and Ubridge have laid the foundation to grow together in the competitive future vehicle market.” Also, Lee Byung-joo, president of Ubridge, said, “Along with LG U+, we will strengthen our position as the leader of the global connected car market.”