Volvo Elevates the 90 Series with Skype for Business Integration

Volvo Cars has introduced a new feature that makes it the first car manufacturer to integrate Skype for Business, Microsoft’s collaborative productivity app, into its vehicles. This feature will be available in the latest 90 Series cars.

Anders Tylman-Mikiewicz, Volvo’s vice president for consumer connectivity services, pointed out how challenging it can be to join a conference call from a car. “We’ve all struggled with trying to join a call while driving, either fumbling with the phone, dropping it, or forgetting the long pin code,” he said. “It’s not an ideal way to start an important call, and worst of all, it distracts you from focusing on the road. With Skype for Business integrated into the car, these issues are resolved.”

Skype for Business, which is widely used by millions worldwide, will now allow Volvo’s 90 Series drivers to see their upcoming meetings, view participant details, and join calls with just one click on the large central display.

“This is a significant advancement in our in-car connectivity and communication offerings,” Tylman-Mikiewicz added. “As we move towards autonomous driving, we envision a future where in-car productivity tools will let people cut down their time spent in the office. This is just the start of rethinking how we utilize time in the car.”

Volvo emphasizes that its tech approach aims to simplify and ensure the safety of its customers’ lives by applying the latest technology smartly. Their collaboration with Microsoft extends beyond Skype for Business; they are also exploring the use of the Cortana personal assistant to provide seamless voice recognition and contextual insights, predicting and meeting users’ needs throughout the day.

Ben Canning, Microsoft’s director of product management for Skype for Business, noted, “Volvo understands that work is becoming more mobile. People need to be able to work efficiently from anywhere, including their cars. We’re excited to bring modern meetings to Volvo vehicles.”

In partnership with Microsoft and Ericsson, which supplies cloud-based services, Volvo continues to innovate and offer forward-thinking features to its customers. “We’ve been focusing on in-car communication for years,” Tylman-Mikiewicz concluded. “From in-built handsets in the ‘80s and ‘90s to our current Bluetooth hands-free systems, we understand the need to make life easier for those on the go while maintaining safety and minimizing driver distractions.”