CES 2017: Microsoft launches cloud services for car manufacturers

Presented this Thursday, January 5, at the CES in Las Vegas, Microsoft's Connected Vehicle Platform consists of a range of cloud services for a connected car such that Azure IoT Hub, Dynamics, Cortana Intelligence Suite, Skype for Business or Office 365.

Microsoft has used the CES 2017 in Las Vegas to meet with various automobile manufacturers in order to get a place on the booming market for technologies related to the connected car. After announcing the integration, in late December, its unified communications solution Skype for Business Volvo station wagons in the Series 90, the Redmond Company introduced Thursday a set of cloud services that will enable automakers to equip their vehicle applications.

Available in preview version since last year, the Connected Vehicle Platform integrates communication solution for connected devices Azure IoT Hub, as well as following Cortana Intelligence, Dynamics ERP, the Office suite 365, the analysis tool Power BI and unified communications solution Skype for Business Enterprise. Manufacturers can be equipped with some elements of the platform or adopt any.

 Contracts with diverse auto companies

For example, Azure IoT Hub can be used to exchange messages between the vehicle and the cloud and vice versa. For its part, the virtual assistant Cortana will be integrated an onboard system of the car while Skype For Business will allow professionals to enter the conference call from their car by applying a click on the dashboard screen. Meanwhile, many in the auto sector announced at CES 2017 their willingness to rely on Microsoft technologies to support their strategy in the area of the connected car.

For example, Volvo Cars, Nissan, Harman, and IAV are joining Toyota, Ford, Qoros and Delphi, who are already working with Microsoft to accelerate the development of the future of autonomous driving. After the announcement of an agreement to exploit the Azure, Renault-Nissan is the first to adopt all of the connected Vehicle Platform for its connected cars.

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