7digital, the leading open digital music platform, and QNX Software Systems Limited, a global leader in software platforms for in-car electronics, today announce a partnership that will see 7digital´s HTML5 music store made accessible through the QNX CAR TM application platform for the automotive infotainment market.
7digital´s HTML5 global digital music store has been integrated within the QNX CAR platform. This integration allows automotive manufacturers and OEMs to build digital music stores directly into QNX-powered in-car infotainment systems.
The HTML5 store´s UI matches 7digital´s existing web and mobile store, already available in over 40 countries. Users of the integrated stores will be able to browse, preview and purchase music within their car, as well as access their existing collection already stored in 7digital´s cloud-based Locker. This will extend the 7digital connected-device experience to the car.
The QNX CAR platform for infotainment systems is based on QNX® technology deployed in millions of cars on the road today. Most of the world´s major automotive manufacturers, including Audi, BMW, GM, Honda, and Toyota, ship cars with QNX-based infotainment systems.
The integration has been completed using the 7digital Application Programming Interface (API), which allows 7digital´s partners and developers to build digital music stores into existing products and services using 7digital´s technology platform. The QNX CAR platform is available now to automotive companies wanting to build a native HTML5 music application store within car infotainment systems.
"Connected and mobile devices have changed the way music is consumed, but one thing that hasn´t is people´s desire to listen to music in the car," comments Ben Drury, CEO of 7digital. "We´re already working with partners in the automotive sector and now, for the first time, automotive companies using the QNX CAR platform can leverage our HTML5 music store, where their customers can access the largest collection of digital music from the convenience of their vehicles."
"The lines between in-car systems, mobile devices, and the web are blurring," said Derek Kuhn, vice president of sales and marketing at QNX Software Systems. "Our partnership with 7digital is a testament to how well digital music services can be integrated into a seamless automotive user experience."
The QNX CAR application platform for infotainment systems is available now to automotive companies worldwide. Track and album pricing will be in local currency in each region. 7digital also powers the music service on the BlackBerry® World TM storefront for BlackBerry® 10 smartphones and BlackBerry® PlayBook TM tablets, which offer a mobile computing platform based on the QNX OS architecture.
The partnership is the latest example of 7digital´s move into the automotive sector, and follows a partnership with Pioneer that saw the 7digital catalogue integrated into Pioneer´s AppRadio product.
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