Volvo Adds Skype for Business to Its 90-Series Cars

Swedish car manufacturer Volvo is adding Skype for Business, Microsoft's collaborative productivity app, to its new 90 Series cars, making it the first carmaker to launch such an in-car productivity tool.

Volvo's partnership with Microsoft also includes exploring an integration of Cortana, Microsoft's intelligent personal assistant, with the express intention of adding seamless voice recognition and contextual insights to in-car systems.

"We've all been there, sitting in the car trying to join a conference call. You either fumble with or drop your phone while trying to connect, or you forget the long PIN code to join. It's not the best way to start an important call in the car. On top of all that, your attention is not where it should be, on the road. With the addition of Skype for Business, all that goes away," said Anders Tylman-Mikiewicz, vice president of consumer connectivity services at Volvo Car Group, in a statement.

In Volvo's 90 Series cars, people will be able to view their upcoming meetings and participant details and join meetings with one click via the large display.

"Skype for Business represents another big step forward for our in-car connectivity and communication offer. With the dawn of autonomous cars we see a future where flexible in-car productivity tools will enable people to reduce time spent in the office. This is just the beginning of a completely new way of looking at how we spend time in the car," said Anders Tylman-Mikiewicz.

"Volvo Cars is leading the way in its recognition that the nature of work is increasingly mobile. People need to be productive from anywhere, including their cars," said Ben Canning, director of product management for Skype for Business at Microsoft, in a statement. "We're thrilled to extend modern meetings to Volvo cars."

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