The new "Cheyrolet AppShop" -- announced -- will first feature about a dozen apps from the Detroit-based automaker and other well-known programs such as iHeart Radio, The Weather Channel and Priceline.com.
DETROIT, MI- General Motors Co. will launch its own in-vehicle app store starting later this year for its Chevrolet brand.
The new "Cheyrolet AppShop" will initially feature about a dozen well-known apps from the Detroit-based automaker and third-party app developers, then expand over time. Initial apps include iHeart Radio, The Weather Channel, Priceline.com and others.
The app store will work in connection with GM’s 4G LTE hardware that’s set to launch this summer on an array of vehicles in the U.S. and Canada.
“They really have an opportunity to experience their vehicle in new and innovative ways that they really couldn’t have done before,” said Tim Nixon, chief technology officer of GM's Global Connected Consumer.
The new high-speed 4G LTE data network, which will be sent through the company’s OnStar division into the vehicle, will double the power of GM’s current system, Nixon said. It is expected to be on most 2015 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac models, according to GM.
GM partnered with AT&T for its deployment of 4G LTE services on most 2015 model-year vehicles.“It allows the vehicle to act like a WiFi hotspot,” Nixon said. “The bandwidth that we’re bringing with 4G LTE in really staggering … we’re going to be providing significant bandwidth improvements over what we’ve delivered (currently 2G technology).”
The rollout of the 4G LTE is in partnership with AT&T. Benefits include in-vehicle WiFi hot spots, new infotainment options like streaming video entertainment in the back seat, real-time updates and faster application downloads.
In the U.S., the app store will first launch on the Corvette, Impala, Malibu and Volt this spring. Followed shortly after by the Equinox, Silverado, Silverado Heavy Duty, Spark and Spark EV. The store will also launch this spring on the Trax in Canada.
With the store, drivers will be able to download apps to the vehicle and customize the layout of the apps on the infotainment screen.
The goal of the store, according to GM, is not to have 1 million apps, but have apps that will directly benefit the driver.
“At General Motors, we are trying to minimize driver distractions through the use of technology,” said Phil Abram, chief infotainment officer, GM Global Connected Consumer, in a statement. “In addition to AppShop, Chevrolet offers features like text-to-voice and smartphone voice pass-through integration to create a safer driving environment."
GM announced the new app store Sunday night in connection to the 2014 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
View full sizeChevrolet AppShop is accessible through an icon displayed on the available MyLink screen that allows owners to view all available apps and download them directly to the vehicle.Other initial apps include NPR, Slacker Radio, Cityseeker, Eventseeker, Glympse and Kaliki. All the apps, officials said, are centered around helping and enhancing the driver's experience seamlessly.
AppShop will be standard on properly equipped Chevrolets with its MyLink infotainment system.
GM is one of many automakers that are moving toward a more cell phone-like, app-based system for infotainment systems. Last year, analysts told MLive that more app-based systems were just around the corner, as consumers want to be connected everywhere.
More announcements and news from automakers and the tech industry are expected from CES this week in Las Vegas, which continues through Friday.
This is the second announcement Sunday from GM in connection to CES. The first involved a new Performance Data Recorder with high-def camera for the 2015 Chevy Corvette Stingray.
Check back to MLive for more news from the show.