Volvo announced it will introduce Microsoft’s Skype for Business smartphone app to its new 2017 90 Series vehicles.
Accessible through the large center touchscreen, drivers of the Volvo XC90, S90, or V90 can view a list of scheduled meetings, their contact lists and with a simple tap, “Join Meeting” can connect to conference calls without the frustrating pin codes.
“We’ve all been there. Sitting in the car trying to join a conference call. You either fumble with or drop your phone while trying to connect or you forget the long pin code to join,” said Anders Tylman-Mikiewicz, vice president consumer connectivity services at Volvo Car Group.
“It’s not the best way to start an important call in the car. On top of all that, your attention is not where it should be – on the road. With the addition of Skype for Business all that goes away,” Tylman-Mikiewicz said.
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Many people use Skype during the day to talk with colleagues and clients, and some won’t change their habits just because they are driving and it isn’t easy to join an important call.
Minimizing the steps required to join a conference call should help a driver to focus on the road as much as possible.
Volvo and Microsoft are also working on integrating the tech company’s Cortana virtual assistant (think Apple’s Siri) to provide seamless voice recognition and contextual insights based on the time, location and schedule of the driver.
The question is whether this technology will reduce driver distraction or make it worse. Watch the video below and decide.
