Android May Land in Cars Soon

Google's Android software may soon appear in cars, broadening the platform's growing significance as it joins the race to create more and more connected vehicles.

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Myriad, a mobile technology company and Android developer, has been talking with the auto industry about bringing Android to cars. The company developed a version of Android, called "Alien Dalvik," to run on non-Android devices, allowing the Google platform to run on any car.

Myriad hasn't disclosed which automakers, or specific vehicles, may add Android, but if this happens, users could soon see Android powering more than just their phones. Drivers will be able to use Google's interactive maps, guides and other apps, while car makers will be able to install Alien Dalvik right out of the box, without a need to customize the platform.

Google would reach beyond computers and mobile devices, making it an even more powerful platform.

"By extending the Android platform powered by Myriad Alien Dalvik to automotive manufacturers, we are opening up market opportunities to reach entirely new audiences," said Benoit Schillings, Myriad's chief technology officer.

Since its debut three years ago, Android now runs on over half of mobile devices shipped in the U.S., making it the fastest-growing and most popular mobile operating system. Google's Android Market, in tandem, has grown to over 200,000 apps, a number that will only increase as more developers join the app-building tide.

Now that its mobile platform owns significant market share, Google is expanding Android's reach even farther. The company recently demonstrated a "smart-home" platform, called Android@Home, which allows people to turn on lights and stereos remotely using smartphones.

Google plans to debut "smart" appliances, like light fixtures, later this year, propelling the Internet giant to the forefront of smart-home technology. Cars would be a logical outgrowth.

But should Myriad introduce Android to the auto market, Google will need to compete with others who have been there first.

For instance, OnStar, which has been in GM cars for years, and Microsoft's Sync have been in some Ford vehicles, while Intel's chips are making their way into BMWs.

With more people demanding smart-cars, and even smart-homes, Google is poised to make inroads from Myriad's talks with automakers, giving it an even more dominant platform beyond smartphones.

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