This report provides an overview of the OE systems offered by vehicle manufacturers in Europe for making voice calls in the car. It considers the impact that Bluetooth has had on these systems and examines the potential need for Wi-Fi and other wireless technologies in the car.

The report shows how wider availability of Bluetooth, integrated as standard into vehicle audio systems, will progress as the penetration of compatible mobile telephones in Europe moves above 50 per cent of the annual market. From this point, the adoption of the technology on higher volume car models becomes a stronger economic prospect. At present, 16 principle manufacturers offer Bluetooth hands-free kits, but fitment is low due to the high cost of in-car systems. SBD anticipates manufacturers will be equipping the first vehicles with Bluetooth as standard within the next two years.

SBD demonstrates how the development of Bluetooth has already had an impact on the provision of embedded car telephones, with some manufacturers deleting them as options and their future application likely to be confined to telematics services rather than making and receiving voice calls.

The report comprises an overview of in-car telephone use, Bluetooth market and technical developments, non-voice applications of Bluetooth, such as for digital music playing and satellite navigation and the potential role of Wi-Fi in the car. The content includes a section dedicated to other wireless technologies, including WiMAX, Ultra Wide Band, ZigBee and Near Field Communications, with a summary of their deployment, applications in the car and compatibility.

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