Great response, what are thoughts on the future of DAB especially with the automotive industry pushing hard on mobile internet?
60% of new cars now have dab. That's a simple fact. Looking at DAB and then mobile internet (provided by mobile phone service providers) the possibilities become mind boggling.
The issue with mobile internet services is that someone has to pay the data costs. My wife's E89 has it installed (and paid for life in the car purchase) but in reality, it doesn't get used much. The best bit is to download satnav details from your phone before you leave home.
However, the manufacturers (and dealers) typically get more from it than the car owner. They get all the diagnostics and usage information. They learn what's going on in near real time. They could call you about a problem long before you know it yourself.
Am sure more innovative ways will be found to use mobile internet and data. Cars will automatically connect to emergency services via apps in case of an accident etc.
DAB has a much greater data capacity than the data carrier in FM signals (RDS etc) but less than mobile internet. I'm sure that manufacturers could find ways of doing over the air downloads via that rather than mobile data as it would cost less, but, is a one way service. Of course, dealers wouldn't like that though because it means you don't have to visit them and pay exorbitant rates. Coverage of both mobile data and DAB are an issue. Mobile phone companies only provide service where there are revenue paying customers to use it. DAB is the same - it's paid for either the BBC or advertisers on commercial stations. You'll probably only ever get 95-97% population coverage which equates to 85% geographic coverage. Most people rely on the far richer data provided in mobile satnav said rather than those that use RDS based data.
At the moment those kinds of service are bundled in and I think the car manufacturers will realise they are missing a potential revenue stream by giving it all for free as soon as they put mobile internet in your car. At the lower ends of model ranges, I'd expect them to start providing fee paying services and bolt ons.
I think you'll see far wider variety of mobile internet based services across cars.
On third party radios, it's likely data services will be supported by you own mobile phone rather than its own mobile internet or that of the car. 3rd party audio is being squeezed out by integration from the car manufacturers even at the lower end of models.
The worrying thing is the extent to which big brother reaches further into your life as a consequence of integrated automotive mobile internet. Imagine the commercial benefits that provides fuel companies and other Automotive suppliers! It's completely independent of the apps you choose to put on your mobile phone and browser use!
It could work to the motorists benefit. When you get low on fuel, the fuel companies could bid for your next fill up and give you their prices on your dashboard display. All kinds of things become possible.
It's there and possible now. Thankfully the car manufacturers haven't yet opened that hornets nest.
This is way off DAB but interesting.
Stick with a dumb car!!!
)
