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ConnectedDrive, BMW’s safety and assistance telematics service, is expected to be supplied on 30,000 new BMW cars in the UK in 2008. ConnectedDrive offers drivers a dedicated website, emergency and breakdown assistance, and driver convenience services, with new features such as Google Send-to-Car and RSS internet information.  

With the designedly time-saving Google Send-to-Car feature, the driver can select one or more destinations through Google maps at home or at work. These are then sent directly from their PC to the car through the ConnectedDrive web portal. Once in the car, the driver simply accepts the destination. Whether this system saves more time than voice command-activated navigation directions is not clear.

Another new feature of ConnectedDrive is the use of RSS news feeds into the car (exceptng Z4 and X3 models). The owner of a ConnectedDrive-equipped car can ‘click and drag’ RSS feeds from the internet into the ConnectedDrive web portal. In the car, those RSS internet news and information feeds are then displayed in the iDrive screen when the car is stationary.

In addition, the driver has access, through a manned call centre (not a computerised database), to a listing of UK locations such as cinemas, restaurants and sports facilities.

Alongside these driver aids within ConnectredDrive are the existing eCall emergency connection to the 999 emergency services and bCall link to the BMW breakdown service. In the event of an accident, the driver only has to press the SOS button from the on-board monitor or in the roof lining to gain instant access to the emergency services through 999.

If the driver is involved in a severe incident and the airbag is deployed, the eCall element of BMW ConnectedDrive takes over and automatically instigates contact with the 999 emergency services. The European Commission plans to make eCall a compulsory fitment in new cars across the EU.