Audi announced today at a 2011 A6 launch event in Italy that the automaker has hooked up with traffic info and services provider Inrix for what's being billed as the first Internet-connected navigation system -- not counting some smartphones nav apps and Ford Sync. The A6 will debut with the automaker's Audi Connect platform and Audi Online Services, which initially will be available in Europe across the Audi lineup by mid-2011.
Inrix's XD Traffic service, a component of Audi Online services, promise to deliver real real-time traffic, "traffic-influenced turn-by-turn directions" and accurate accident and incidents alerts along a route. Inrix claims that its XD Traffic service will allow "highly personal traffic and travel information." The company also says that the 2011 A6 is the first car to use a new standard called Transport Protocol Experts Group -- or the snappier sounding TPEG -- and is also the first IP-based in-car system.
This basically means that, compared to the FM-based Traffic Message Channel (TMC) standard, more detailed traffic and info can be sent to the car, and at faster speeds. Inrix claims that an XD Traffic-powered nav system can consistently calculate travel times to within 5 minutes of the actual drive time. Plus, like satellite services, weather and other info can be bundled with the nav and traffic info.
Inrix also says all of this can be accomplished at "significantly less cost than commonly used standards." And maybe that's the best part for people who are on a pay-as-you-go data plan.
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