In a bid to challenge Siri and Apple CarPlay, Robin assistant expands to Amazon

PALO ALTO, Calif. - March 11, 2014 - PRLog -- Robin, the popular Siri-like driver's assistant app on Android, is now available in the Amazon app store. Created by Robin Labs (http://www.robinlabs.com), the app offers a voice-in, voice-out interface for navigation, calls & messaging, music and social apps on Android, as well as parking/gas stations search and other driver-centric functions.

The company is positioning Robin as a free alternative to Apple's CarPlay platform, announced last week in partnerships with Ferrari, Mercedes and Volvo. CarPlay's key feature is Siri integration, where iPhone owners can plug their devices into the car, and Siri will automatically integrate with the cabin microphone and speakers. However, if you are an Android owner and don't happen to be driving a new Ferrari, you are out of luck! That, says Robin Labs CEO Ilya Eckstein, is where Robin fits in: all you need to get going is an Android phone and a reasonable data connection.

Hence the company's Amazon app store push: according to Eckstein, the goal is to make Robin easily available across all compatible Android devices, sometimes in collaboration with car infotainment companies such as Pioneer (related story: http://techcrunch.com/2014/01/09/robin-labs-builds-a-rear...).

Robin Labs is certainly not the only player in Android-based car infotainment: just in January Google announced an Open Automotive Alliance to rally automakers around Android (just after they rolled out their Siri Eyes-Free integration with Honda http://robingets.me/robinlabs/html/honda-siri.html). Also, smaller contenders such as CloudCar are trying to offer car-centric platforms with an Android core. But Eckstein does not see them as competitors, as Robin is not trying to replace other infotainment systems, but rather help make them more conversational and truly eyes-free.

http://www.amazon.com/Robin-Labs-Siri-challenger/dp/B00IS...