 |
|
| CURRENT SECTION :: News | UK's most visited IT Contractor Site - 250k unique visitors March 2008 |
|
 |
More than seven out of ten of all cars manufactured next year in the US will be iPod compatible, following a landmark deal reached between Apple and a trio of motoring giants. Speaking yesterday the technology company said consumers who buy cars from General Motors, Mazda and Ford will be able to plug into iPod quality music through their car stereo. Using the system’s controls, iPod fans will select their favourite tracks by artist, album, playlist or shuffle songs, while being able to easily skip between tracks and playlists. Ford will feature iPod integration in the majority of its 2007 models in the US beginning later this year, while Mazda’s entire upcoming global lineup of cars and SUVs will also offer iPod connectivity. General Motors will start building iPod-enabled cars before the end of 2006, under a pledge to digitize all 56 of its new models, “representing millions of cars and trucks,” Apple said. It’s thought all three motoring giants will equip their models with adaptors that can plug into the normal in-car stereo system, enabling the device to be played and charged at the driver’s discretion. Announcing the deal, Apple said its audio device can be stored inside a glove compartment when it is not needed, regardless of whether it is an iPod, iPod shuffle or iPod nano. The agreement with the big three motor companies has caused analysts to warn the radio industry of the potential dangers, given Apple has joined the band of commercial forces all competing for drivers’ in-car attention. It also comes on the eve of another Apple unveiling; said to be the next generation iPod nano – unofficially expected to debut on August 7, according to Mac gossip site Think Secret. Last month Apple reported its second highest quarterly sales and earnings in the company’s history, on the back of continued growth with Mac and iPod business. Compared to this time last year, sales of iPods have leapt 32 per cent, fuelling year-on-year revenue growth of 24 per cent and earnings growth of 48 per cent. Confirming the sale of 8,111,000 iPods in the last quarter alone Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs reflected: “iPod continued to earn a US market share of over 75 percent and we are extremely excited about future iPod products in our pipeline.” Aug 4, 2006 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
|
|
   |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All content © Contractor UK Limited | http://www.contractoruk.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1[Register for News Letter] | [Privacy Statement] | [Terms of Use] | [Top of Page] |