BIOS: Technology Means Business

Yesterday at the Windows Automotive Conference 2005 at the Pacifico Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan, Microsoft's Automotive Business Unit announced the release of Windows Automotive 5.0, the latest version of its automotive-grade software platform designed specifically for the custom development of advanced in-vehicle solutions including navigation, infotainment and communication systems.

Windows Automotive 5.0 provides the automotive industry with a powerful, flexible software platform to create an array of cutting-edge in-vehicle solutions, according to Microsoft. Building on previous versions, new features include the Automotive User Interface Toolkit (AUITK) and expanded virtual memory support, which promise to enable the creation of complex 3D graphics and advanced navigation displays, while enhanced power management and faster cold-boot times improve performance.

In addition, the platform is expected to help the industry deliver better solutions to market more quickly using the new Automotive System Tools (ASTs), which include improved test modules and easy-to-use product engineering guidelines to help simplify the development process and increase reliability.

'As automotive and mobile device technologies continue to converge, our commitment to delivering technology that provides consumers with seamless communication, information and digital entertainment experiences extends to the car,' said Todd Warren, corporate vice president of the Devices, Services and eXperience group at Microsoft. 'The release of Windows Automotive 5.0 marks an important step in the company's continued collaboration with the automotive industry to make this vision a reality.'

'Windows Automotive 5.0 is designed to deliver on the industry's need for scalable, customisable and reliable technology that reduces development costs and creates innovative, differentiated systems for every price range and vehicle type,' said Marty Thall, general manager of the Automotive Business Unit at Microsoft. 'Now our partners have an automotive-grade software platform for delivering in-vehicle technology solutions that meet the growing demands of today's drivers and passengers.'

The software is based on the real-time embedded operating system Windows CE 5.0, so it contains the building blocks necessary to integrate with off-board services, including those offering real-time traffic updates, directions to the cheapest gas in town, turn-by-turn navigation and more. More specifically, the new software platform promises a faster user interface development, better scalability, and expanded virtual memory (96MB of virtual memory).

It should be more stable and reliable and has better support for industry standards, including MIPS and SuperH CPUs as well as Bluetooth, 802.11x, UPnP, USB, XML, SOAP and other common standards. The platform's multimedia functions have been boosted with the addition of DirectShow which supports a variety of digital media including Windows Media Audio, MP3 and DVD.

Currently, suppliers including Alpine Electronics, Clarion, Kenwood, Matsushita Electric Industrial, Mitsubishi Electric, Pioneer and Tottori Sanyo Electric are using the Windows Automotive platform to develop a range of solutions ranging from digital radios and hands-free kits to high-end 3D navigation systems.