Blackberry’s RIM acquires iDrive OS maker QNX

Could we see Blackberry Email being pushed to BMW’s iDrive in the future for CEOs to check their email from the comfort of their F02 7-Series rear seat? It could definitely be possible sometime soon. We’ll tell you why.

Blackberry maker RIM has just cut a deal to acquire QNX, the company which makes the QNX RTOS. The QNX system powers BMW’s latest version of the iDrive system, the one with the HDD navigation. Audi’s MMI, GM’s OnStar, and Porsche’s PCM are among the other in-car entertainment and communication systems that run on QNX systems.

QNX is very popular for onboard entertainment system usage but it does have a few competitors, such as Microsoft’s Windows Mobile for Automotive and Intel’s new Atom-based system that will run the Intel and Nokia-supported MeeGo operating system.

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Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • NICE!!! Blackberry + BMW combo!awwesome

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  • exlive3 on Apr 14, 2010 at 1:43 am

    i like..why does malaysian car dont have these?? i mean, it juz implementing these stuff into the dash..

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    • Jarum on Apr 14, 2010 at 10:54 am

      Because they are still trying hard to sort out the mess with the power windows! :)

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  • Alpha on Apr 14, 2010 at 1:44 am

    Paul,i thought Audi already has smetg like this in their latest A8??

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  • Paul Tan on Apr 14, 2010 at 1:51 am

    Not sure what you’re asking. Audi has Blackberry?

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  • Aariz on Apr 14, 2010 at 6:13 am

    I’m sorry, Microsoft’s ‘Windows Mobile for Automotive’, the MeeGo operating system etc. are no competitors to QNX.

    As mentioned already in the article above, QNX is a RTOS, a real time operating system.

    With QNX you could realise systems where ‘hard realtime’ is absolutely necessary, i.e. ‘drive by wire’, ‘Electronic Stability Control (ESC)’, adaptive cruise control and ‘Lane Assist Systems’.

    Windows Mobile Automotive, Intel’s Moblin and Nokia’s MeeGo can only be used for entertainment, navigation and communication systems, but not for safety related functions. QNX can do both.

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  • jon joe on Apr 14, 2010 at 7:23 am

    BB’s OS not really stable enough
    even on their BB devices

    the only problem I can find in BB device
    so much memory leakage
    RIM must wake up

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  • Oh crap! If I am CEO, I won’t bother to check my email while sitting at the back. I will ask my secretary or PA to do that for me and they will call and make proper arrangements where necessary. Better I spent that luxurious time reading latest news in the market, watch out the stock trends as well as go through important proposal for my business projects or get ready for the next meetings. Or better still….sleep…

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  • wiraone on Apr 14, 2010 at 9:03 am

    Why do we need a blackberry in the car? What is the purpose of it? They could just go ahead and implement a software that could interact with your existing blackberry while you’re in the car and not putting the blackberry in the car. But not everyone wants blackberry .. it is so yesteryear .. :) BTW .. QNX is used in many embedded applications .. from your probably your chepo routers .. up to high end cars like BMW and telco equipments.

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  • droll on Apr 14, 2010 at 9:41 am

    finally, an acquisition that completely makes sense in recent times.

    the business guys are the main market for these top end saloons and we all know how crackberried they are :)

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  • oh no, not a blackberry… but lucky we dont get to own a beemer that often, so it doesnt matter haha :-)
    p/s. if u’ve ever had a blackberry with issues, u know what i mean :-)

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  • Anonymous on Apr 14, 2010 at 2:19 pm

    Don’t googling, sms, surfing, watching dvd/tv, and drive.

    ‘Don’t drink & drive’ need to add their sibling!

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  • Last time I checked mmi and idrive are both horrible interfaces…. Blackberry continues to fail because there core business is under fire…. They failed to aquire the good assets of nortel and they failed on storm 1 and 2… They really should buy palm for their patents.. Engineers and os

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