삼성전자가 인포테인먼트 글로벌 자동차 시장 공략에 나섰다.
5일 업계관계자는 “삼성전자가 인도 타타 자동차에 이어 BMW와 폭스바겐에도 드라이브 링크 공급을 논의 중”이라고 말했다.
또한 “올해는 갤럭시 S5에도 드라이브 링크를 연동 할 것”이며 “보이스 UI도 개발 중”이라고 전했다.
삼성전자는 이에 대해 “글로벌 자동차 회사들과 공급을 논의 중인 것은 맞지만, 구체적인 회사명을 언급하기는 어렵다”라고 말했다.
드라이브 링크는 운전자의 편의성을 높이기 위해 삼성전자가 개발한 앱이다. 음악ㆍ내비게이션ㆍ전화 등 운전중 사용빈도가 높은 기능은 물론 날씨ㆍ일정(S 플래너)ㆍ문자메시지ㆍ음성 지원 기능 등을 갖추고 있다.
한 증권사 관계자는 “TV와 스마트폰 시장의 성장이 둔화되면서, 삼성전자가 스마트카에서 새로운 사업모델을 확대 해 나가고 있다”라고 전했다.
유진호 우리투자증권 연구원은 “애플과 구글이 스마트카 시장에 뛰어들면서, 삼성 또한 비즈니스 확장이 예상된다. 드라이브 링크 공급에 대해서는 “국내외 대부분 자동차업체들과 논의 중 일 것”이라고 말했다.
<관련 영문 기사>
Samsung in talks with BMW, Volkswagen to supply telematics
Samsung Electronics has been in low-key talks with global automobile companies to provide its Drive Link in-car smartphone application to German automakers including BMW and Volkswagen, industry sources said Wednesday.
“Samsung is negotiating with the two companies to supply its application to fit into their design concepts such as user interface,” a source familiar with the matter told The Korea Herald.
The Korean tech giant is expected to unveil its Drive Link system on the Galaxy S5 this year. It would be an upgrade from the application featured on the Galaxy S3 introduced in 2012, according to the sources.
It is also developing the application with voice user interface.
“It is true that we are pushing ahead with the supply deal with several global automakers. However, we cannot name specific companies,” said Lee Won-ho, a Samsung Electronics spokesperson.
The two global automobile makers have already formed a partnership with Samsung.
Samsung SDI has supplied its battery to both of their electric vehicles.
Samsung Electronics’ vice chairman Lee Jae-yong met with BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer in February and Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn in May 2012.
“Samsung is said to be in talks with most global automakers both at home and abroad, apart from BMW and Volkswagen. As Google and Apple have jumped into the smart car markets, Samsung’s interest in the area will expand further down the road,” said Yoo Jin-ho, a research analyst at Woori Investment & Securities.
In February, Samsung provided the Drive Link application for India’s largest automobile company Tata Motors.
Drive Link is a smartphone application that can connect to a vehicle’s navigation screen to improve the driving experience.
It displays large icons for music, navigation, call or schedule, which are frequently used while driving.
It also allows the text-to-speech function to convert written text into spoken words.
As the growth of television and smartphone markets slows in advanced economies, Samsung Electronics is currently eyeing the global smart car markets as a new revenue source, sources said.
“Vehicle companies want to connect smartphones with automotive core systems,” said Hong Won-pyo, head of Samsung Electronics’ Media Solution Center, at the opening speech of the Korea Electronics Show last October.
“With the combination of Samsung Electronics smartphones and mirror link system, drivers can use core applications while driving,” he said.
By Shin Ji-hye (
shinjh@heraldcorp.com)
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