Fiat and Microsoft join forces

FISH · 02-07-2006, 07:44 AM

Car wars
February 07, 2006

http://itsneak.itweek.co.uk/2006/02/car_wars.html

Fiat, the large European car maker that struggles to make a profit, has teamed up with Microsoft, which doesn’t, to launch a thing called Blue&Me.

According to the mismatched pair, Blue&Me is “the ultimate in-car communications and entertainment system”. Which, taken literally, means that Sneak can look forward to never hearing from this pair again, as there is no point in them developing their modular Bluetooth and USB-based system any further if it’s already “the ultimate”.

Meanwhile Volkswagen is working with Google and graphics hardware firm Nvidia on in-car navigation based on Google Earth - software from the search firm that maps out the entire globe. Which presumably means that users can look forward to their GPS system hopping randomly from London to New York when its loses satellite lock, rather than simply mixing up The Embankment with The Strand.

And can it be co-incidence that in the same week as Google and VW cuddled up together, Google bumped VW’s arch rival BMW down to zero in its German search rankings, claiming that BMW’s site had broken its rules on search engine optimisation? Sneak feels we should be told.

uujjj · 02-07-2006, 10:23 AM

Fiat and Microsoft, huh? Maybe that old "If cars were like computers" joke will come true.

Bggriffi · 02-07-2006, 10:40 AM

Maybe Fiat can screw Microsoft out of a couple billion, too.

Whirling_Dervish · 02-07-2006, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bggriffi

Maybe Fiat can screw Microsoft out of a couple billion, too.

The EU is doing a fine job of that.....not that I care. GO APPLE!

01cavalier · 02-07-2006, 11:36 AM

I'm not crazy about the whole EU thing. Fiat and Microsoft? Yah, those jokes about a windows powered car came to mind for me too.

johnny smallblock · 02-07-2006, 11:38 AM

There's a really good joke in here somewhere, I just can't find it...

sigma · 02-07-2006, 12:01 PM

Hey maybe now the engine really will fall out of the car every thousand miles

asim · 02-07-2006, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bggriffi

Maybe Fiat can screw Microsoft out of a couple billion, too.

Haha...Microsoft can afford it though...

Bravada · 02-08-2006, 01:16 PM

Fiat's not "struggling" to make a profit anymore, they have made a quicker turnaround than anybody expected. I guess the level of mismanagement and excessive costs was so high that Marchionne had a lot to cut from. With the new Punto, 159 and Brera I believe they are better poised for the future than ever.

Nevertheless - Fiat and Microsoft? How? What for? I guess it's just a PR thing.

Stéphane Dumas · 02-09-2006, 07:52 AM

Fiat with Microsoft, Google with VW, I wonder which car maker will associate with Apple computers?

DanCBJMS1988 · 02-09-2006, 09:52 AM

Maybe Ford

02-07-2006, 07:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
FISH 3.6 Liter V6 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Brisbane Australia Drives: 2005 VZ 190kW 5 speed auto Calais. Posts: 1,032	Fiat and Microsoft join forces Car wars February 07, 2006 http://itsneak.itweek.co.uk/2006/02/car_wars.html Fiat, the large European car maker that struggles to make a profit, has teamed up with Microsoft, which doesn’t, to launch a thing called Blue&Me. According to the mismatched pair, Blue&Me is “the ultimate in-car communications and entertainment system”. Which, taken literally, means that Sneak can look forward to never hearing from this pair again, as there is no point in them developing their modular Bluetooth and USB-based system any further if it’s already “the ultimate”. Meanwhile Volkswagen is working with Google and graphics hardware firm Nvidia on in-car navigation based on Google Earth - software from the search firm that maps out the entire globe. Which presumably means that users can look forward to their GPS system hopping randomly from London to New York when its loses satellite lock, rather than simply mixing up The Embankment with The Strand. And can it be co-incidence that in the same week as Google and VW cuddled up together, Google bumped VW’s arch rival BMW down to zero in its German search rankings, claiming that BMW’s site had broken its rules on search engine optimisation? Sneak feels we should be told. __________________ “For the looks, I think the Charger tries too hard to look cool. It's the fat guy with a bald patch wearing fiery tattoos and a muscle shirt. The G8 is the mixed martial arts champion that strolls around in dockers and a golf shirt because he knows how to fight and doesn't feel the need to impress anyone with a tough guy outfit." Michael_S

02-07-2006, 10:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
uujjj 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Urbana, IL Drives: zx3 Posts: 784	Re: Fiat and Microsoft join forces Fiat and Microsoft, huh? Maybe that old "If cars were like computers" joke will come true. __________________ To stay employable in the future in this country, you need to have highly marketable skills that are unlikely to be shipped overseas. So, brush up on your brooming and cash register skills.

02-07-2006, 10:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bggriffi 3.5 Liter V6 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Jackson, MS Drives: 2004 Acura TSX Posts: 234	Re: Fiat and Microsoft join forces Maybe Fiat can screw Microsoft out of a couple billion, too.

02-07-2006, 11:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
01cavalier 6.0 Liter LS2 V8 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portland, OR Drives: 2007 Cobalt Posts: 4,818	Re: Fiat and Microsoft join forces I'm not crazy about the whole EU thing. Fiat and Microsoft? Yah, those jokes about a windows powered car came to mind for me too.

02-07-2006, 12:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
sigma 4.4 Liter Supercharged Northstar Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: In the Galactica CIC Drives: 2005 Chevy Malibu Posts: 2,486	Re: Fiat and Microsoft join forces Hey maybe now the engine really will fall out of the car every thousand miles __________________ "The best committee is the committee of one" -Bob Lutz

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02-08-2006, 01:16 PM	#9 (permalink)
Bravada 70 MPG Two Mode Saturn Hybrid Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Warsaw, Poland Posts: 10,712	Re: Fiat and Microsoft join forces Fiat's not "struggling" to make a profit anymore, they have made a quicker turnaround than anybody expected. I guess the level of mismanagement and excessive costs was so high that Marchionne had a lot to cut from. With the new Punto, 159 and Brera I believe they are better poised for the future than ever. Nevertheless - Fiat and Microsoft? How? What for? I guess it's just a PR thing.

02-09-2006, 07:52 AM	#10 (permalink)
Stéphane Dumas 4.4 Liter Supercharged Northstar Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,309	Re: Fiat and Microsoft join forces Fiat with Microsoft, Google with VW, I wonder which car maker will associate with Apple computers?

02-09-2006, 09:52 AM	#11 (permalink)
DanCBJMS1988 5.3 Liter LS4 V8 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Pawtucket, RI, USA and Ottawa, ON, Canada Drives: none Posts: 3,684	Re: Fiat and Microsoft join forces Maybe Ford __________________ Weddings and funerals are the only two events that shouldn't be criticized.

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