Smart Phone with a Dumb Screen – GM GoGoLink

If you have ever had the chance to use a car with ten year old navigation you know that in car electronics do not age gracefully. For those who have not, think about attempting to use a ten year old smart phone. Even the most bleeding edge technology that is available today will be antiquated in the not too distant future. The question that remains is what should manufacturers do to help mitigate this problem? Yesterday, GM released a new in-car infotainment system that will be able to remain up to date by keeping the brains of the system out of the car. Read on to find out how.

GM announced GogoLink, which is a smartphone application that provides full-function navigation through the car’s MyLink infotainment system. In other words, you now have the ability to plug your Apple or Android smartphone into the car. Once connected through USB or BlueTooth the application on your phone is replicated on the car’s 7” touchscreen. This deserves a second mention, they are allowing the infotainment display to be a control device for your smartphone.

By moving the processing power out of the car and leaving it in your phone GM has provided the ability to easily update in-car technology. Instead of having to download software to USB keys and then going through a complex in-car update, users just update the applications on their phones. Additionally, they have effectively lowered the cost of entry for in-car navigation to the cost of a $50.00 app.  From the typical $2,000 (or more) premium, this is quite an accomplishment.

The GogoLink application will join Pandora and Stitcher as applications that will be available within the MyLink system that will be available on the Chevrolet Sonic and upcoming Spark. MyLink is standard on 1LT and 2LT versions of the Spark, as well as the Sonic LTZ and upcoming RS model.

The system will be launched at the New York Autoshow and we have time planned with GM to play with the GogoLink and MyLink systems. Let us know if you have any questions and we will get them answered from the source.