Taking care of business: Putting the cloud in your car to work for you

NCloud technology has come a long way since the early days when it served as an easy way to back up photos and files. Now, in-car cloud technology enables drivers to stay in touch better than ever be— and there are many possibilities for future development.

Google and Apple^® both offer in-car interfaces that connect to the cloud via the user's smartphone or other mobile devices. These allow drivers to use navigation, communication, business applications, productivity tools, and more without taking their gaze off the road.

With the development of V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle) and V2C (vehicle-to-cloud) connectivity, we are looking at better performance and unprecedented safety in the future driving experience.

Wondering how this technology can help improve your on-the-go productivity? Here's a look at several ways you can put your car's cloud to work for you.

Never Miss a Thing

With a cloud-based car interface, keeping up with calendar events, emails, and texts becomes much easier — and safer — as you don't even need to pick up your smartphone while driving. Google's Android Auto lets you access your calendar and other information on your car's touchscreen. Voice command means you can safely keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

Apple CarPlay® offers similar features, connecting directly to your iPhone® and enabling Siri® voice control. You can also use your car's knobs, buttons, or touchscreen to access a selection of apps, including iTunes®, Audible®, and Spotify®.

Seamless Calling and Texting

Texting or dialing a phone number while driving is dangerous, but connected cars are providing solutions to make it safer. Using voice command, calling a colleague is as easy as pushing a button on your steering wheel and saying, "Call Bob." Connect via your car's audio system, or talk using an earpiece or headset. With Apple CarPlay, simply ask Siri to read incoming text messages to you, and dictate your response without taking your eyes off the road. Siri can also play your voicemail through the car's speakers.

Android™ Auto offers similar functionality through voice commands, and you can also dictate and send text messages through apps like Google Hangouts™ and WhatsApp. Even better, Google can suggest a text response, you just need to confirm it. Add important contacts to “Favorite” so it’s easy to dial the number with just one click or command.

Navigating up a Notch

Maybe you've had a GPS in your car for years, so getting help with navigation seems like nothing new — but cloud connectivity provides an edge over traditional GPS systems. Since cloud-connected navigation apps work in real-time, you have access to the latest traffic, construction, and weather information, helping you to quickly identify the best route to your destination.

Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support various navigation apps, including Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze. You can use voice search to find restaurants or gas stations along your route.

Apple CarPlay has introduced a feature that predicts the most likely destinations based on your previous trips. It can also extract addresses from your contact list, emails, and text messages.

The Future of Connected Cars

Developers envision seamless in-car digital experiences like this one: Your car notifies you of a mechanical problem and contacts service providers in the area who can fix it. Then, consulting your schedule, the system coordinates an appointment time and asks you to confirm.

From 2021, some car models support the feature of unlocking and starting the car with your iPhone. It’s an easy and secure way to share keys with the family.

As technology continues to develop, cloud-connected cars will become more and more common, making it easier than ever to stay productive while driving.

What are your favorite tools for working on the go? Share your experiences with us on Facebook.