Microsoft is apparently working on bringing Cortana to its "Windows in the Car" concept, which will enable users to interact with the car system through speech.
While some car integration with Windows Phone has been expected for several years now, it was only last year that Microsoft first unveiled its Windows in the Car concept at the BUILD 2014 developer conference. At the time, Microsoft demonstrated how it could project a Windows interface so that a phone's display would appear mirrored onto a touch-friendly interface for the car.
Simply put, the concept extended the functionality of a smartphone with Windows Phone on board into a built-in car display. The company didn't detail just how users would interact with the Windows in the Car system via voice commands, but more information has now come to light.
The Taipei Times now reports that Microsoft is planning to develop "connected cars" that support voice commands and is looking for partners in Taiwan to make it happen.
According to the publication, Microsoft Asia-Pacific Research COO Samuel Shen revealed the details at Microsoft's TechDays Taiwan developer conference that took place in Taipei.
More specifically, Shen said that Microsoft has already developed a connected car prototype that uses Windows 10's Cortana voice recognition software. This prototype involves windshield integration with a navigation system, virtually projecting Cortana onto the windshield to show the driver locations of nearby establishments, along with options such as making restaurant reservations.
Shen explained that Microsoft hasn't launched such products so far because they are expensive, but the company hopes to discuss the matter with partners in Taiwan to "jointly explore future possibilities."
It remains unclear at this point which potential partners Microsoft has in its sights for this project, or when it might develop connected cars with Cortana integration.
The concept doesn't sound too far-fetched, and the fact that Microsoft finally shared more details on the matter indicates that it may be getting closer to achieving its goal. At the same time, nothing is set in stone, and it could take a good while for Microsoft to find suitable partners and actually bring Cortana-connected vehicles to market.
