Mercedes-Benz To Launch A-Class Cars With Siri Integration
by Tommy Ly
February 26, 2012
At next month's Geneva Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz is unveiling an all new A-Class to their car lineup. It features an upgraded version of their existing COMAND system and, for the first time from an automotive manufacturer, full Siri integration. This new system will allow drivers to send texts and emails, make appointments, check the weather, and control their music with Siri's voice recognition technology.
Mercedes-Benz stated:
Thanks to a new "Digital DriveStyle App", developed in-house, together with the "Drive Kit Plus for the Apple® iPhone®", drivers can now access all the key content of their Apple® iPhone® through the in-vehicle display and enjoy safe and convenient operation of the device via the Controller on the center armrest. The attractive 'look' is ensured by the revolutionary user interface design. In a further world premiere, Mercedes-Benz will enable access to the voice-based intelligent companion Siri™ in the vehicle. This allows natural speech input, without the need for specific commands, to send messages, select music tracks and check the weather forecast or stock prices, as well as to make appointments. All the iPhone® integration functions can be used even with the entry-level Audio 20 system.Initially, these new features will be limited to the European A-Class at launch, but Mercedes reports that the B, C, and E-class models will be getting the iPhone-integrated COMAND system this fall. Ford's SYNC system offers similar hands-free functionality with compatibility with a broad number of phones, but Mercedes' new system seems to take full advantage of the features of the iPhone 4S, specifically. Either way, it's great to see automotive manufacturers implementing more hands-free features for users. Siri can't call for help if you get in a wreck while trying to respond to that picture of a lolcat your friend sent you. The late Steve Jobs would have definitely had this in his Mercedes, if he could. Not everyone can afford a Mercedes-Benz, but would you like to see Siri integration in more new vehicles in the future? [via autoblog]
