Apple iPhone Siri Eyes Free support for Chevrolet Spark USA

General Motors is all set to bring the Siri Eyes Free support for the apple iPhone to even its budget range of cars. Siri is a voice activated assistant that works on the iPhone, that allows users to carry out a range of functions, from playing music to sending text messages, all through voice commands. This feature, which is available in the latest Apple iPhone 4S will also be available on GM cars of the future, albeit in the  form of an Eyes Free version. In this version, drivers can activate the Siri using a steering mounted button.

Eyes Free Siri for Apple iPhone

However, Siri will work in the background without the iPhone’s screen getting switched on, to ensure that the driver doesn’t get distracted. The Eyes Free version of the Siri on the iPhone will offer a range of functions, all with the display of the phone being switched off. The following are a few functions that the latest car specific version of the Siri will bring to the table: Calling people, selecting and playing music, hearing and composing text messages, using Maps and getting directions and reading notifications are just a few of the many functions.

That General Motors is choosing to bring the Eyes Free Siri for the Apple iPhone even to its budget models like the Spark and the Sonic means that this feature could become widespread in other brands as well as the iPhone is a high volume device that commands a big share of the smartphone market across the world. Similar to the iPhone’s Siri, other smartphone makers on the Android and the Windows platforms may also join the fray as this is a market that is too hard to ignore. The big takeaway here is that voice based controls could become more widespread in automobiles of the future.

Voice controls means both higher convenience as well as safety as the driver will now not have to take eyes off the road to carry out a range of phone based functions. Currently, a range of car makers have agreed to add the steering mounted button to support the Eyes Free Siri. They include a wide range of luxury brands like Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Chrysler, Jaguar, Land rover, General Motors, Honda and Toyota. More such automakers could jump on to this bandwagon in the coming years. All these automakers plan to implement the Eyes Free Siri in their cars over the next 12 months.