Startup electric vehicle manufacturer Byton has revealed a wide range of partnerships that will enliven the user experience on the Byton Stage display in the company’s first vehicle, the M-Byte. A Byton Developer Program has also been announced for content producers.
“When Byton committed to creating the first smart device on wheels, this is exactly the kind of engagement we had in mind,” said Byton CEO Daniel Kirchert. “The M-Byte with its unique user experience will offer developers the opportunity to present in-car interactions in a way that is more engaging than ever before.”
ViacomCBS and Access announced a partnership in 2019 to make the global media and entertainment company’s TV brands accessible to vehicle passengers via the Access Twine for Car system. From this partnership, Access will be able to supply ViacomCBS content to Byton’s 48in screen. According to Byton, a rich video experience will make spending time in the M-Byte between journeys “every bit as engaging as time spent on the road”.
“EV manufacturers like Byton are a prime example of how disruptive innovation is transforming the market, which fits perfectly into our vision for an immersive, multimedia future inside the car,” commented Sven Eckoldt, global product director at Access Europe.
Byton users will also have access to local forecasting technology from AccuWeather. As part of a connected car strategy, the M-Byte, using AccuWeather, will not only report the weather conditions on demand but intuitively inform users of upcoming changes in weather at their destination.
Aiqudo’s Voice to Action platform will enable voice commands in the vehicle to seamlessly engage with mobile apps, via Bluetooth, using simple and natural language commands, Byton claims. Aiqudo’s Q Action engine is said to automatically figure out which app the user means to call up with their preferred action. The solution offers support for multiple languages and interaction with thousands of apps, including the most popular apps in each market, according to its creators.
Other Byton partnerships announced include CloudCar (voice-first, natural-language interface to access infotainment services); Road.Travel (online trip booking); and Xperi (HD Radio, including switching to a station’s IP audio stream when driving out of the terrestrial broadcast coverage area, via DTS Connected Radio).
Meanwhile as part of the Byton Developer Program, the company has released UX design documentation and app development guidelines for partners and developers. Byton is developing apps and services for entertainment, health, productivity, eCommerce and other experiences “that seamlessly merge the mobile and automotive worlds”.
