Wipro tunes into low-cost in-car infotainment

Your car could soon act as your personal secretary by taking dictation to create notes or even drafting emails while you are on the move. IT major Wipro’s in-car infotainment project envisages doing this and more using its IPR-protected automotive technology. This is expected to be ready for commercialisation in March next year.

At the Electronica India 2009 conference in Bangalore on Wednesday, Vijayendra Mohan Agrawal, general manager, head of infotainment and telematics practice team, Wipro, said, “The project is in its second phase and will be completed in March next year. Wipro is looking for Tier-I suppliers like Bosch to commercialise the project.”

Interestingly, these gizmos and gadgets won’t be restricted to premium cars alone. Wipro is looking to streamline activities to incorporate them in small cars as well. Besides browsing the net, you can also listen to music, watch internet television, operate bluetooth-enabled mobile phones through voice commands and use camera displays for easy navigation.

Agrawal is part of a 10-member squad, called the Infotainment and Telematics Practise Team, which is working on the project for the last one year. Currently, the in-car infotainment in India is mainly restricted to external devices like mobile phones, music systems and portable navigation devices, which are generally supplied by after-market players.

However, Wipro’s project will incorporate automotive electronics within the car’s dashboard. The technology, which is also called in-dash infotainment, will be fitted by the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The in-dash infotainment systems market in India is expected to touch Rs 3,600 crore by 2012, according to a Frost and Sullivan study.