Iconic Fiat 500 offers Windows Mobile infotainment

Click here to learn
about this Sponsor:

Keywords: Match:

Jul. 05, 2007

Fiat has launched its latest car using Microsoft's Windows Mobile-based "Blue&Me" infotainment platform. The Fiat 500 has been designed to evoke the original "Cinquecento," an iconic vehicle that made its debut 50 years ago today.

Spread the word:
digg this story

Blue&Me, standard in all top-end Fiat 500 versions, permits connecting digital media players via a USB port in the car's dash. Passengers can also connect their mobile phones wirelessly via Bluetooth. The devices can then be operated either with voice command or multifunction buttons on the steering wheel.

Blue&Me is controlled by buttons on the steering wheel
The Blue&Me system made its debut in 2006 on larger Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Lancia vehicles, but has not previously been available in a car this small. According to Fiat, the Polish-built Fiat 500 will not be sold in the U.S.. However, Alfa Romeo is rumored to be making its U.S. return in 2009.

The Polish-built Fiat 500 won't be sold in the U.S. -- or, will it?
(Click to enlarge)

New to this year's version of Blue&Me is a navigation system said to be more affordable than previous alternatives. The Blue&Me Nav system stores maps on a pen drive that plugs into the car's USB port, making the data access "faster and quieter" than when a CD is used. Maps can also reportedly be backed up onto any media player that can act as an external disk drive.

Blue&Me features a convenient USB port
Blue&Me is a collaborative effort between Fiat and Microsoft; as such, not all details have been released. However, Microsoft has said Windows Mobile for Automotive, on which Blue&Me is based, supports the .NET Compact Framework and the Speech Application Programming Interface (SAPI).

According to Microsoft, Windows Mobile for Automotive runs on a 32-bit 300MHz ARM processor, with 32MB of flash memory. A "basic" version includes a Bluetooth port for connecting cell phones and a USB port; a "standard" version also features GPS and a built-in GSM phone.

Giuseppe Bonollo, vice president of product portfolio management at Fiat, stated, "The launch of the Fiat 500 will be another chapter in our successful partnership with Microsoft. Nearly three years after we launched Blue&Me globally, it still enjoys a significant competitive advantage, both in terms of product offerings and pricing."

Related stories:

(Click here for further information)

7 Advantages of D2D Backup
For decades, tape has been the backup medium of choice. But, now, disk-to-disk (D2D) backup is gaining in favor. Learn why you should make the move in this whitepaper.

4 Legal Reasons to Control Internet Access
The Internet is obviously a valuable resource for many organizations. However, many are exposed to legal liability concerns because they fail to control Internet access. Learn if you're safe in this white paper.

Rapidly Resolve J2EE Application Problems
Whether you are in the process of building J2EE applications or have J2EE applications already running in production, you must ensure that they deliver the expected ROI. Learn how in this white paper.

Load Testing 2.0 for Web 2.0
There are many unknowns in stress testing Web 2.0 applications. Find out how to test the performance of Web 2.0 in this white paper.

Build Better Games Online
For the game infrastructure providers, life is complex. Making money from games has become more complicated. Why? Find out in this white paper.

Building a Virtual Infrastructure from Servers to Storage
This white paper discusses the virtual storage solutions that reduce cost, increase storage utilization, and address the challenges of backing up and restoring Server environments.

Gaining Faster Wireless Connections with WiMAX
Welcome to what is quickly becoming the hyperconnected world where anything that would benefit from being connected to the network will be connected. Learn more in this white paper.

Is Your Desktop a Security Threat?
The new wave of sophisticated crimeware not only targets specific companies, but also targets desktops and laptops as backdoor entryways into those business’ operations and resources. Learn how to stay safe in this white paper.

Increasing SAN Reliability by 100 Percent
Storage area networks (SAN) are a strong part of storage plans. Learn how to increase your reliability and uptime by 100 percent in this case study.

Got a HOT tip? please tell us!

Click here for a profile of each sponsor:

PLATINUM SPONSORS
<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/entzd.windowsfordevices/desktop;kw=msembedded;pos=top;dcopt=ist;zdid=a221772;tile=1;sz=150x30;ord=<script=JavaScript>document.write(Math.round(Math.random()10000000000));</script>?"" style="border-width:0px;height:150px;width:30px;"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/entzd.windowsfordevices/desktop;kw=msembedded;pos=top;dcopt=ist;zdid=a221772;tile=1;sz=150x30;ord=<script=JavaScript>document.write(Math.round(Math.random()10000000000));</script>?" style="border:0; height: 150; width:30;" /></a>		<a href="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/entzd.windowsfordevices/desktop;kw=trolltech;pos=top;dcopt=ist;zdid=a221772;tile=1;sz=150x30;ord=<script=JavaScript>document.write(Math.round(Math.random()10000000000));</script>?"" style="border-width:0px;height:150px;width:30px;"><img src="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/entzd.windowsfordevices/desktop;kw=trolltech;pos=top;dcopt=ist;zdid=a221772;tile=1;sz=150x30;ord=<script=JavaScript>document.write(Math.round(Math.random()10000000000));</script>?" style="border:0; height: 150; width:30;" /></a>

(Become a sponsor)

ADVERTISEMENT
(Advertise here)

HOT TOPICS • 2006 Windows Embedded retrospective
• Windows CE 6 Arrives
• Shared source contest winners
• Ultra Mobile PCs
• Spotlight on SPOT
• Embedding Windows is 4X cheaper than Linux
• CE "core" reduced to $3

...in our 2007
Windows Embedded Market Survey

Check out the latest Windows-powered...

mobile phones!

other cool
gadgets

REFERENCE GUIDES
• Windows Device Showcase
• Intro to Windows Embedded
• Intro to Shared Source
• Real-time Windows Embedded
• Windows Embedded books

BREAKING NEWS

• Rack-mount automation computer runs Windows from flash
• Smallest GPS-equipped phone ever?
• Color e-paper rolls up for storage
• Windows XP leaps onto OLPC laptop
• "1-Watt" x86 processor powers pico-ITX board
• Webcast covers Windows Mobile development
• "Software-only" GPS supports WIndows
• Atom-based ECX board runs Windows
• $7 SoC runs Windows CE
• April XPe chat transcript available
• Little thin client runs Windows CE or XP Embedded
• Microsoft releases VS 2008, NET Framework 3.5 betas
• E-reader boasts 6-inch EPD display, Windows CE
• Thin clients bulk up on software
• Microsoft warns of Windows CE 5.0 security hole

Join our Windows Embedded discussion forums:
• Windows XP Embedded
• Windows CE
• Windows Mobile

Windows Embedded developer newsgroups
• Windows CE
• XP Embedded
• PocketPC
• Smartphone

Microsoft's Windows Embedded resources
• Embedded dev center
• Mobile dev center
• Windows CE tutorials
• XP Embedded tutorials
• Windows Embedded seminars
• Windows Embedded application categories
• 3rd-party partners

Also visit our sister sites:

Sign up for WindowsForDevices.com's...

news feed

Use of this site is governed by our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Except where otherwise specified, the contents of this site are copyright © 1999-2008 Ziff Davis Enterprise Holdings Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Ziff Davis Enterprise is prohibited. Windows is a trademark or registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries and is used by WindowsForDevices under license from owner. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. WindowsForDevices is an independent publication not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation.