Mercedes-Benz

UK: Mercedes-Benz has opened its own app shop, called Mercedes-Benz App Store, from which customers can download applications directly to their vehicle. The ‘App Shop’ is already live: http://apps.mercedes-benz.com/apps/

Currently, two apps, Parking Finder and News (powered by dapd), are available for purchase for €10  (1 year’s subscription).

Other apps such as share prices, Yelp are expected to be made available in the near future. Google Search, Weather, Facebook are already available as standard apps within the COMAND Online system. Also the availability of apps and pricing may vary by vehicle model, launch date etc. For example, the News app is available as a standard feature on the new SL Class.

The individual features and restrictions while driving are also likely to vary by app. The news app, for example, will support multiple languages including  English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Czech, Russian and will restrict the user from viewing the entire news article when the vehicle is being driven. News headlines will always be available.

Because the COMAND Online system is browser-based, the App Shop enables ‘over-the-air’ activation of apps. As the system is using a browser, there is no heavy download of the entire app (so hopefully no phone data bill shock to the user). This process can be compared to the setting of ‘Favourite’ web pages within Internet Explorer or Firefox on a PC or smartphone.

Source: http://www.inautonews.com/mercedes-benz-app-store-opened-in-europe