HARMAN delivers next-generation internet connectivity for Audi MMI infotainment system

Nov. 12, 2012 - PRLog -- HARMAN designed the fully integrated infotainment unit to facilitate high-quality playback of diverse music and video files through seamless connectivity via such devices as iPod, Hard Disk Drive, smartphones, and USB devices. The Audi-specific human machine interface (HMI) ensures that each system function is accessible with minimal user distraction and maximum ease of use. The new MMI touch function gives drivers a convenient means of configuring the navigation system while keeping their attention on the road ahead. Using a separate touchpad in the center console, users can easily enter addresses, select music tracks, or initiate a telephone conversation. The MMI Touch function accommodates a wide range of text inputs, including Japanese, Chinese and Cyrillic characters.  

Equally state-of-the art are the Audi online services which allows the car to retrieve up-to-date information from the internet via the optionally integrated GPRS/EDGE (UMTS) modem and on-board WLAN Hotspot.  Drivers and passengers can search online using a variety of sources including Google Earth and Google Maps. Harman has also enabled the new infotainment unit to download and display emails from vehicle occupants’ portable devices and smartphones.

HARMAN’s integration expertise in best-in-class navigation also delivers rich new detail for map and travel data. 3D navigation views offer increased realism, helping drivers to safely select the appropriate route via a City Model function and Google Street View.  3-D terrain models based on Google Maps data provide additional detail such as road elevation, presenting route data to the driver in the most intuitive manner.  Dynamic route guidance is also available, thanks to embedded Real Time Traffic information.

This latest release is the third infotainment project that HARMAN has delivered for Audi, with manufacturing based in Harman’s Straubing, Germany facility. The new HARMAN system will premiere aboard the 2013 Audi A3.

About HARMAN

HARMAN (www.harman.com) designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment solutions for the automotive, consumer and professional markets — supported by 15 leading brands, including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® and Mark Levinson®. The Company is admired by audiophiles across multiple generations and supports leading professional entertainers and the venues where they perform. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. HARMAN has a workforce of about 13,900 people across the Americas, Europe and Asia, and reported net sales of $4.4 billion for year ended June 30, 2012. The Company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE-HAR.

For further information please contact:

Nicole Mehr - Tel:  +49-7248-71-1272 - nicole.mehr@harman.com

Darrin Shewchuk - Tel:  +1 203-328-3834 - darrin.shewchuk@harman.com