National Press Release

OTTAWA, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- QNX Software Systems, the global leader in operating systems and middleware for the automotive market, today announced QNX(R) CAR, a new program that redefines the way that automotive OEMs and their tier one suppliers prototype, develop, and deploy infotainment, telematics, and navigation systems.

QNX CAR offers a comprehensive set of technologies, including a connected application platform, sample applications, reference implementations, and a mechanism for delivering software updates and new features to the vehicle. The initial application platform includes integrations with consumer devices, Bluetooth, music management, Internet radio, and other third-party technologies. These integrations drastically reduce the upfront engineering needed to initiate a prototyping program, both for OEMs proving out ideas in a lab and for tier one suppliers competing for their next customer win.

"The QNX CAR platform is a great example of QNX's support in application development for automotive OEMs in the prototype and development phase," said Jonathan Lee, senior engineer, Volkswagen Group of America Electronics Research Laboratory. "The framework solves many of the integration issues in a final production system and enables Volkswagen Group application designers to focus on the core navigation product and HMI features -- keeping our QNX-based system relevant long after market introduction."

Reference implementations

Traditionally, software and silicon vendors have worked loosely together, leaving all the integration work to the tier one supplier. By providing preassembled reference implementations, QNX CAR allows customers to skip first-level integration efforts and to work immediately on product development and differentiation. Already, QNX CAR provides two such implementations, a digital instrument cluster and a multi-node infotainment system, with more to come.

QNX CAR will support multiple silicon architectures, including ARM, Power, SH, and Atom processors provided by Freescale, Renesas, Texas Instruments, Nvidia, Fujitsu, Intel, and other leading vendors.

"Software integration is a primary focus for our customers as they continue to look for faster ways to bring new technologies into the automobile, and QNX CAR provides a new level of integration that represents a leap forward in terms of meeting the changing requirements of the auto market," said Ken Obuszewski, director of product management for Multimedia Applications at Freescale. "QNX Software Systems' pedigree in software development has uniquely positioned them to deliver this ecosystem approach to automotive computing that will help us to better meet the current and future needs of our joint customers."

New business model

QNX CAR changes the rules with a first-of-its-kind business model that reduces risk for the customer by applying product charges only to those projects that go into awarded production programs. Qualified OEMs and tier ones will gain free access to the QNX CAR software as well as to evaluation versions of many third-party components. The program also includes a developer portal that provides source code to QNX products, technical resources, forums, and the ability to track new features in real time. Together, these program features allow suppliers to reduce engineering costs and deployment risks, to demonstrate cutting-edge technologies, and to leverage the time-to-market advantage of preintegrated reference applications.

"Value and supply-chains for in-vehicle technologies continue to evolve as demand for the connected car accelerates," says Thilo Koslowski, vice president and automotive practice leader at Gartner. "Successful automakers, suppliers and service providers will embrace cost-effective, comprehensive, easy-to-use, and flexible software solutions that allow resources to be focused on achieving innovation, driving competitive differentiation, and developing new business models."

Market leadership

As the automotive market leader, QNX software technology has been licensed for more than 10.1 million vehicles worldwide, in vehicles from Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Saab, Ssangyong, Toyota, Volkswagen, and others. QNX software already powers applications in more vehicle models (200) and is used by more automakers and suppliers than all other OS platforms combined.

"Increasingly, automotive OEMs are relying on software to differentiate their brands, drive added revenue, and attract and retain customers," said Dan Dodge, CEO of QNX Software Systems. "With QNX CAR, automotive OEMs and tier one suppliers get a jump start on building and branding next-generation applications that can connect drivers and passengers to their personal devices; feed new services and software from the cloud to the car; and distribute media, entertainment, and information throughout the car."

Visit the QNX CAR portal

For more information on the QNX CAR program, including videos, product briefs, FAQs, and whitepapers, visit http://www.qnx.com/qnx_car_portal.

About QNX Software Systems

QNX Software Systems, a Harman International company (NYSE: HAR), is the industry leader in realtime, embedded OS technology. The component-based architectures of the QNX(R) Neutrino(R) RTOS, QNX Momentics(R) development suite, and QNX Aviage(R) middleware together provide the industry's most reliable and scalable framework for building innovative, high-performance embedded systems. Global leaders such as Cisco, Daimler, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, and Siemens depend on QNX technology for network routers, medical instruments, vehicle telematics units, security and defense systems, industrial robotics, and other mission- or life-critical applications. Founded in 1980, QNX Software Systems is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and distributes products in over 100 countries worldwide. Visit www.qnx.com.

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