If this is true, this is a big deal for both Microsoft and BlackBerry.
Ford Motor Co., struggling with in-car technology glitches, will base the next-generation Sync system on BlackBerry Ltd.’s QNX and no longer use Microsoft Corp.’s Windows, according to people briefed on the matter.
Using QNX will be less expensive than licensing Microsoft technology and will improve the flexibility and speed of the next Sync system, said the people, who declined to be identified because the decision hasn’t been made public. Ford has more than 7 million vehicles on the road with Sync using Microsoft voice-activated software to make mobile phone calls and play music.
BlackBerry bought QNX for $200 million back in 2010. Microsoft Sync and BlackBerry QNX are the two leading in-car operating systems.
Remember, Ford CEO Alan Mulally was a leading candidate to become the new Microsoft CEO. Interesting sequence of events.
Imagine if Apple made – version of iOS for cars… mmmm.
How did Android miss out on this?
Apple didn’t do one yet.
Car makers are certainly not interested in dealing with all the licensing mess that comes with Android.
It is very hard to make a comparison here. iOS in the car seems to be a full solution, including navigation, entertainment etc. aimed at replacing whatever is there now. QNX is more like a framework / toolset that can integrate with other infrastructure / solutions (like existing or rebranded entertainment and navigation systems) and not even offering all the bits and pieces.
QNX can’t do much more than many other freely available embedded microkernel RTOSs, but it seems to be the only one with proper professional support, which is important for car makers.
BMW changed the OS for its iDrive system several times. The first version was based on Windows CE, which turned out to be the usual bug-ridden MS junk causing nothing but problems, they then went to VxWorks in 2003 and to QNX in 2008.
Hopefully QNX isn’t what Honda uses. The GUI in my CRV is total crap.