One can't generally escape work when inside the car, but Microsoft and Mercedes-Benz seem to believe that they can at least make that corporate interference more tolerable. The two firms are currently collaborating in the development of In Car Office, a means to incorporate Microsoft Exchange with a car's infotainment system.
Microsoft In Car Office
In Car Office works by auto-populating a vehicle's navigation unit with driving directions for upcoming business-related tasks. For instance, the application is capable of offering to make hands-free calls to clients and colleagues while a user is en route.
Unlike Google and Apple, Microsoft doesn't appear to be working on its own self-driving car. Rather, the company wants to build the operating system that can be utilized for a self-driving car.
Back in July, Microsoft's Peggy Johnson expressed the tech giant's foray into vehicular operating systems.
"We won't be building our own autonomous vehicle, but we would like to enable autonomous vehicles and assisted driving as well. We can certainly do the operating system of the car. You're sitting in the car for many, many minutes a day," Johnson said.
"Can that be part of your new office, can it be your new desk, a place where you actually get work done? We believe it can. Each of the automakers had a little something different that they wanted, and we were able to help enable them."
In Car Office Release Date
Microsoft and Mercedes-Benz plan to roll out this feature for Mercedez vehicles produced during the first half of 2017. Thus, it might not be too long before Microsoft's In car Office comes to the automaker's vehicles.
What do you think about Microsoft's partnership with Mercedez-Benz? Will it be useful and possibly revolutionize a new era of productivity?
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