[the_sleuth]

I have searched around but I have not seen this article from last week:

Apple to standardize (not revolutionize) in-car infotainment systems | Driving | National Post

Not sure what this means for BlackBerry's QNX strategy in cars (not that they make a lot of revenue from this right now).

[Bla1ze]

I have searched around but I have not seen this article from last week:

Apple to standardize (not revolutionize) in-car infotainment systems | Driving | National Post

Not sure what this means for BlackBerry's QNX strategy in cars (not that they make a lot of revenue from this right now).

Means nothing, without QNX.. Apple has less of an entry point. Apple is a QNX partner, meaning if automakers want to integrate Apple products they need QNX to be the core OS to run it all. Simply put, Apple isn't running iOS in cars, they're just a layer ontop of what already exists. See: QNX.

[MisterMe11]

Is there a reference to Apple being a partner with QNX? If they are, I'd imaging the QNX cut of the sales revenue would be significantly less than Apple's wouldn't it? (guessing because QNX was not a large company before Blackberry acquired it)

Means nothing, without QNX.. Apple has less of an entry point. Apple is a QNX partner, meaning if automakers want to integrate Apple products they need QNX to be the core OS to run it all. Simply put, Apple isn't running iOS in cars, they're just a layer ontop of what already exists. See: QNX.

[doggy10]

Is there a reference to Apple being a partner with QNX? If they are, I'd imaging the QNX cut of the sales revenue would be significantly less than Apple's wouldn't it? (guessing because QNX was not a large company before Blackberry acquired it)

Yes there is. Go to qnx.com and look under the partners tab and you will see that Apple is a partner of QNX.

BlackBerry for life. Kick'n it with my Z10.

[MisterMe11]

Thanks. Is there any Apple/QNX info specific to cars?

Yes there is. Go to qnx.com and look under the partners tab and you will see that Apple is a partner of QNX.

BlackBerry for life. Kick'n it with my Z10.

[birdman_38]

Go to qnx.com and look under the partners tab and you will see that Apple is a partner of QNX.

Another reason why Apple could buy BlackBerry

Posted via CB10

[mkbbryfan]

Only difference is - Apple will be making all the $... While BlackBerry will be spending time "building relationships with the car manufacturers"...

Posted via CB10

[app_Developer]

Apple is a QNX partner. That does not, however, mean that car companies are obligated to always use QNX to talk the Apple protocols.

It's not clear how much money, if any , apple will make from the infotainment systems directly. Their whole idea is that users would be reluctant to switch from iPhone, or want to switch to iPhone, because it works so nicely with their Honda, Mercedes, Ferrari, etc. Plus they have all this money invested in apps and iTunes content, etc. That's the objective.

[Dunt Dunt Dunt]

Apple will make money.

The question is, does QNX (BBRY) make much? It sounds more like QNX was paid a fee to build the platform and a flat license fee.

Posted via CB10

[FFR]

Apple also partnered with Motorola for the "iTunes" phone.
We all know how that "partnership" ended.

[danprown]

QNX, as an infotainment platform, gets very small licensing fees in the grand scheme of things. When Harman sold them in 2010 for $200 mil, that was reported to be 5 times total revenues. If anyone thinks the infotainment platform can somehow "save" Blackberry, a multi-billion dollar company, they have another think coming.

[LoganSix]

No, the infotainment platform is not what is going to save BlackBerry.

QNX wanted to be more than an embedded OS and has been looking to move into the mobile world. BlackBerry and QNX created a perfect match. It might take a few years to start seeing the products that really use all the benefits of QNX and at that point, a GUI layer of Apple to connect to your car infotainment system will be laughable.

[rthonpm]

It's all well and good for Apple to try and get into this market but, like Bla1ze said, all they'd be doing is creating an iOS layer or skin to work with an existing infotainment system. Auto manufacturers want their infotainment systems to be as generic as possible so that they can work with as many different platforms as they can. Thinking that any of them would consider an Apple-centric or Apple only infotainment system would be a kiss of death in many ways, especially with the way that Apple tends to march to its own drum (think FireWire, Thunderbolt, Apple File Sharing, etc).

QNX's market is safe for a little while longer since they work with just about everyone, and even though they're owned by BlackBerry for all intents and purposes they're run as a separate entity.

[z10fido]

Apple could care less about the paltry scales of revenue that qnx brings. Apple would be concerned with the devices it sells ie phones and iPads and apps . And just another notch in their ecosystem belt which further entrenched their users to buying more apple products and to have them integrated with all aspects of their lives.

Posted via CB10

[CairnsRock]

QNX this, QNX that, QNX, QNX, QNX.

QNX will save the world. If its not written with QNX it's rubbish. Only QNX can do this or that.

QNX in cars is the future of bbry.

If its so light and nimble, why can't bb10 run on a 1GB Playbook, but IOS 6 can run on a .5GB iPad.

Do you guys really buy all this? Or is it time to call them on the bs?

[LoganSix]

If its so light and nimble, why can't bb10 run on a 1GB Playbook, but IOS 6 can run on a .5GB iPad.

QNX Neutrino runs fine on the PlayBook and other embedded devices. The issue is with the BB10 layer vs. the GUI layer created for the PlayBook.

Instead of complaining about all the QNX talk, maybe you should go to their site and see how it is used.

[DenverRalphy]

QNX this, QNX that, QNX, QNX, QNX.

QNX will save the world. If its not written with QNX it's rubbish. Only QNX can do this or that.

QNX in cars is the future of bbry.

If its so light and nimble, why can't bb10 run on a 1GB Playbook, but IOS 6 can run on a .5GB iPad.

Do you guys really buy all this? Or is it time to call them on the bs?

Because BB10 is as much QNX as Android is Linux. Too many people mistakenly confuse the term kernel and OS, and assume they're one and the same. The only aspect about BB10 that is QNX is the kernel. The OS layer of BB10 is the determining factor, not the QNX kernel. And then there's the issue of heaping on the Android environment as well. Any device trying to essentially run two OS layers at the same time are going to be resource hogs.

[FFR]

QNX uses a RTOS (Real-time operating system) micro kernel, just like Symbian.

[richardat]

Apple is a QNX partner. That does not, however, mean that car companies are obligated to always use QNX to talk the Apple protocols.

It's not clear how much money, if any , apple will make from the infotainment systems directly. Their whole idea is that users would be reluctant to switch from iPhone, or want to switch to iPhone, because it works so nicely with their Honda, Mercedes, Ferrari, etc. Plus they have all this money invested in apps and iTunes content, etc. That's the objective.

Yes, I was going to say that if this arrangement became standard, Apple would still have the upper hand by far. QNX would basically be a supplier for Apple, but in the long term, if Apple decided they wanted to bypass that layer, they could work on it and do so....QNX on the other hand would be shut-out of trying the reverse.

Still, this is at least something for QNX/BB, even if not a huge revenue source! They should do all they can to strengthen and facilitate their role!

[richardat]

Means nothing, without QNX.. Apple has less of an entry point. Apple is a QNX partner, f[X.

Blaize, is that all BB had in mind then? Just to supply an embedded layer?

[notfanboy]

The thing to consider here is that Apple's launch would completely change things around. Although infotainment has been around for years and QNX is supposed to be a market leader, I've never heard of QNX before and the only reason I know about them is by following CB.com. When Apple announces, it will be a huge deal and it will be all over the news. No one in the general public is really anticipating what the next QNX car system is going to be like. But most will be interested in Apple's take on it. As for myself, I'm keenly interested in how simple and usable they can make the interface.

[playbookster]

Too little too late

Posted via CB10

[LoganSix]

When Apple announces, it will be a huge deal and it will be all over the news.

Why? What would make a car manufacturer choose Apple over a proven system? A proven system that is so open, the car company can call it uConnect or OnStar or Que or whatever they want and not have it labeled as a Windows or Apple system that might turn off customers? Why would a car company want a restricted system like Windows or Apple. I'm sure Ford is getting subsidized by Windows, but they get the complaints, not Windows.

[Superfly_FR]

Any new customer is welcome. Whatever the brand he's loyal to is.
No misplaced pride, take the dime.

[notfanboy]

Why? What would make a car manufacturer choose Apple over a proven system?

Sales.

The "proven system" is old news and is not expected to drive any more sales.

Apple on the other hand has a huge halo effect and has the ability to make a big splash in the media. Car manufacturers would love to bask in this effect and just think of the cross-marketing opportunities.

When Apple launches this they will go big. The majority of consumers don't even know what an infotainment system is outside of gps, Apple marketing will make those people desire it.