Research In Motion has put its buying power in motion with the acquisition of QNX Software Systems. The Waterloo, Canada-based phone maker reached an agreement with QNX’s parent company, Harman International, to acquire the company, RIM announced Friday.
By acquiring the Ottawa, Canada-based QNX, RIM will gain access to its open operating system, Neutrino. The open platform is used across many industry verticals, including telecommunications, medical, defense and automotive.
While QNX’s software is used in life-critical systems such as air traffic control, surgical equipment, and nuclear power plants, it has been used most recently in casino gaming terminals and in-car infotainment systems.
The phone maker may be planning to integrate its BlackBerry smartphone functions with in-car audio and infotainment systems in the short term, but for the long term it looks as though RIM may be interested in providing dashboard and communications systems using BlackBerry functions.
“RIM is interested in expanding opportunities for QNX in the automotive sector and other markets,” said Paul Leroux, a spokesperson for QNX. “No question, this is a positive development for QNX.”
“In addition to our interests in expanding the opportunities for QNX in the automotive sector and other markets, we believe the planned acquisition of QNX will also bring other value to RIM in terms of supporting certain unannounced product plans for intelligent peripherals, adding valuable intellectual property to RIM’s portfolio, and providing long-term synergies for the companies based on the significant and complementary OS expertise that exists within the RIM and QNX teams today,” said RIM President Mike Lazaridis.
RIM’s acquisition comes on the heels of QNX announcing that its technology has been licensed for more than 17 million in-vehicle systems worldwide — a 130 percent increase since 2008.
Brands such as Acura, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Nissan and Toyota use QNX software for their hands-free systems, connectivity modules, 3-D navigation systems, or rear-seat entertainment products.
QNX intends to keep its existing locations and has no intention of cutting back its staff, according to the company. In fact, the company is currently hiring, according to Leroux.
RIM may also be tapping into QNX’s experience with Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile broadband access technology. QNX, along with a slew of partners, including Lucent and Toyota, was recently selected to collaborate on an LTE-connected car.
Population and changes in demographics will be the driving forces behind changes in the automotive industry, and RIM clearly sees this as a market.
“RIM does not do anything unless it knows there is a market for it,” said Ramon Llamas, an IDC analyst. “They want to do better things with the user experience with smartphones and they are trying to connect the smartphones to other devices. Now they are saying if you are in the car and want to share things with everyone in the car — boom, you can do it.” In five years, or by 2015, 40 percent of the world will live in cities with populations of more than one million people, and 17 percent will reside in mega-cities with more than five million people, according to Accenture.
Those drivers will need in-vehicle systems to better navigate what are expected to be congested city roads. Drivers will also heavily rely on their car to help them decide on the best restaurants and places of entertainment.
(Source: Newsfactor.com)
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