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It's official, there's a press release and everything. As part of their "ConnectedDrive" theory on in-car information systems, BMW is now the first auto manufacturer to offer Google local search straight from the in-dash nav system. You can look for Yellow Pages-type information like names and addresses of restaurants, hotels — locate service stations, banks, supermarkets, cinemas and Apple genius bars — and all of it right from your car. One catch — you've got to be in Germany. Well, it's a start and hopefully it's a preview of what we'll be able to see here stateside. This isn't the first pair-up between the two companies — Google and BMW had been offering the "Send to Car" function for a while now — that's the system that let's you transfer search results from the Google Maps website directly to the car. This new Google local search system now gives you access to the Internet from the car. Full release after the jump.
World firstBMW is the only automobile manufacturer to offer the Google local search in the car - available now. For the first time, you can use this search function to look for local information everywhere in Germany with the world's most famous online search engine. When you find what you want, the details are transferred to the navigation system and car phone at the touch of a button. The system identifies the location and destination of the vehicle automatically and displays the results in the vicinity with details of address, phone number and distance. For example, you can look for Yellow Pages information like names and addresses of restaurants and hotels and locate service stations, banks, supermarkets, cinemas and public bodies. In a nutshell: The automobile Google local search service saves time and stops your nerves getting frayed.
Google local search in the vehicle is a logical development of the intelligent link between automobile and Internet. Google and BMW have been offering the function "Send to Car" for transferring search results from the Google Maps website directly to the car for some time. Google local search now gives access to the Internet from the car. This is another building block in BMW "ConnectedDrive" which combines all individual online, assistance and service systems in the car. Apart from BMW Online, this includes BMW Assist, which offers the emergency call function, as well as an information and breakdown service and the latest traffic information. Depending on the navigation system selected, all services from BMW ConnectedDrive can be procured and used free of charge for up to three years.
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