QNX, BlackBerry’s operating system subsidiary that makes the new BB10 operating system, today announced that it would be adding music streaming service
7digital into its in-car entertainment and information system, QNX CAR.
The deal gives QNX more leverage against Google and its own car ambitions, as well as Apple, which has made some moves into the automotive segment, and is the world’s biggest seller of digital music today. The QNX deal will see access to 7digital’s catalog of 23 million tracks, and HTML5-based music store, via the QNX system; the music service will work across the 40 countries where 7digital already has licensing agreements. It follows on the heels of QNX deals with other music providers including Pandora, Tune In, and Slacker.
QNX says that this will in turn mean that automotive OEMs and others working on in-car systems can now build customized digital music stores into QNX-based “infotainment systems.” These will link up with 7digital’s wider service across mobile and web platforms so that subscribers can access their music on all of them.
The move is another sign of how everything, including cars, are fair hardware game today. “The lines between in-car systems, mobile devices, and the web are blurring,” said Derek Kuhn, vice president of sales and marketing at QNX Software Systems, in a statement. “Our partnership with 7digital is a testament to how well digital music services can be integrated into a seamless automotive user experience.”
