Sprint into UBI Weekly Brief—7.23.2012

In this week's Brief: Sprint, Honda, HARMAN, AAA, OnStar, RelayRides, Continental, Samsung Electronics, CSR plc, Agero and M-Way Solutions

Wireless carrier Sprint unveiled integrated, end-to-end usage-based insurance (UBI) services designed specifically for the auto insurance industry.

The services revolve around a small device that plugs into the diagnostic port of a car and captures vehicle information and driver behavior data that is transmitted over the Sprint wireless network. A cloud-based system analyzes the data with driver scoring software that enables insurance carriers to improve driver risk assessments, reduce costs and improve profitability.

Sprint will offer a comprehensive, three-month Jump Start UBI Trial Program so that insurance carriers can evaluate the ROI of Integrated Insurance Solutions from Sprint.

“We have simplified usage-based insurance,” says Matt Carter, president-Global Wholesale and Emerging Solutions, Sprint. “Sprint has assembled all the necessary components together so that insurers have a single point of contact for all UBI-related needs.”

Honda waded into the infotainment market with its new HondaLink service, a cloud-based solution that offers drivers a selection of Internet-streamed sites, including Facebook, Twitter, and Yelp restaurant listings. The service is based on an audio system interface provided by Aha by HARMAN and is controlled through a smartphone app that consumers will need to download for iOS or Android and link to their car via Bluetooth.

The system will debut on the 2013 Honda Accord.

Travel and auto insurance provider AAA launched a new app, AAA Mobile, that bundles services for motorists, such as mapping and gas price comparison, as well as member-exclusive benefits including roadside assistance and discounts.

The new app combines the AAA Discounts, TripTik Mobile and Roadside apps into one app. AAA Mobile is available to all mobile users available for iPhone and Android-compatible devices.

OnStar partnered up with the RelayRides marketplace, a peer-to-peer car sharing service that connects people who need a car with vehicle owners whose rides would otherwise go unused. OnStar subscribers can now rent out their idle vehicles through the RelayRides marketplace, leveraging OnStar connectivity already active in their vehicles to offset the cost of owning a vehicle.

In turn, RelayRides renters can unlock reserved OnStar-enabled cars simply by using their smart phones. RelayRides is the first third-party developer to integrate with GM OnStar's proprietary API that will be available to other developers later this summer.

Continental announced a new digital technology to replace conventional receiver technologies in car radios. The technology is an intelligent software that will replace a large part of the hardware in today’s radios.

Continental believes that its Global Software Radio technology will allow auto manufacturers to offer their customers modern radio entertainment at lower cost.

Some perks of the new technology: using speakers and headsets different passengers can listen to different radio stations from the same unit at the same time, and a driver can listen to a station while a different channel is being recorded.

Samsung Electronics formed a strategic partnereship with CSR plc. Samsung will gain full access to CSR's mobile connectivity and location technology and transfer certain relevant patents, as well as employ over 300 CSR employees in the selected field for the cash consideration of $310 million.

In addition, Samsung will receive perpetual rights to CSR's intellectual property related to connectivity and location technology such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS reinforcing Samsung's leadership in mobile component solutions.

Agero invested in M-Way Solutions to expand its cloud-based content delivery to vehicles. M-Way’s mobile enterprise application platform, mCAP, enables businesses to implement the full spectrum of mobile enterprise services, including enterprise app distribution, workflows, and mobile CRM services.

Agero foresees the next wave of connected vehicle services to be more complex than simply enabling drivers to access mobile apps via their dashboard and believes that M-Way will help deliver content to drivers as part of an aggregated service that includes personalization and mobile CRM processes.

"This partnership enables Agero to accelerate the deployment of the next level of innovation in connected vehicle services, providing unique user experiences inside the vehicle, as well as helping global automakers extend their brand experience beyond the vehicle into the next-generation mobility eco-system," says Charlie Cavolina, president of Agero Connected Vehicle Services.