QNX Software Systems is highlighting the use of its QNX® CAR application platform in the ng Connect Program's LTE Connected Car concept vehicle. This adaptation of a Toyota Prius hybrid demonstrates how Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G networks can potentially bring video-on-demand, Internet radio, and other wireless broadband services to the automobile. Alcatel-Lucent is also a partner on the program.

QNX CAR is the software foundation of the LTE concept car (For an extensive overview of the vehicle, click here, and then click "Watch the video" for a short presentation). The QNX CAR platform provides all of the car's system software and infotainment applications, including the real-time operating system, touchscreen user interfaces, streaming media players for YouTube and Pandora, navigation system with Google local search, Bluetooth and portable device connectivity, multimedia playback, hands free integration, climate controls, Adobe Flash games, application store technology, and a virtual mechanic.

Launched in February 2009, the QNX CAR platform is being designed into next-generation in-vehicle computing systems and has attracted more than 50 technology partners and automotive customers, including Adobe, Cisco, Daimler, Delphi, Freescale, General Motors, Google, Gracenote, IBM, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Panasonic, Pandora, and Volkswagen.

Geared to development of in-car computing systems, QNX CAR integrates technology to create preassembled, ready-to-customize reference implementations, including digital instrument clusters and infotainment units, for manufacturers of in-car computing systems. The platform supports new capabilities and applications, including dynamically downloaded content.

"In developing the QNX CAR application platform, our goal was to dramatically reduce the time and effort required to bring connected and media-rich automotive infotainment systems to market," said Dan Dodge, QNX CEO. "The LTE Connected Car concept vehicle project demonstrates taking product and applications from multiple ng Connect partners and quickly integrating them into a seamless, customizable, next-generation user experience."

The ng Connect Program is an "ecosystem" of industry leaders developing proof cases for next-generation cloud-based applications that leverage the high-speed wireless LTE networking infrastructure. Other ng Connect members involved in the development of the concept car include Atlantic Records, chumby, Toyota, and Kabillion.