Friday, December 20, 2013

BlackBerry demos world’s first smartphone to car video chat

BlackBerry Live
BlackBerry Live

During the BlackBerry Live Keynote, the Canadian handset manufacturer carried out the world’s first smartphone to car video chat, demoing upcoming technologies.

Utilising a BlackBerry Z10 handset and a stunning Bentley car, BlackBerry showed how it is working on in-car video calls, with users soon to be able to make face-to-face video chats from their smartphone synced in-car entertainment systems.

Although demoed on a concept vehicle, the in-car video call shows where future in-car capabilities are going to head, with the demonstration Bentley boasting a BB10 powered system further enhanced by a 17-inch touchscreen display.

Functioning in much the same way as modern smartphone sync entertainment systems, the smartphone to car video call demonstration saw BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins chat with one of the company’s product managers.

While offering new business potentials, in the interest of safety, however, these video calling features will not be available at all times, with drivers able to make use of in-car video calls only when their car is stopped, with calls automatically switching to audio only communications when the car begins to move.

As well as showing the world's first smartphone to car video call, the BlackBerry Live keynote saw the unveiling of the BlackBerry Q5, a new budget QWERTY hosting handset with four colour schemes set to see it appeal to youth markets.

More to follow.

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