There is no denying that smartphone applications are quickly altering the environment in which we live, from how people communicate with one another to how they drive. The development of driving mobile apps has considered strategic methods, keeping up with updates and changes in the automotive industries of various nations, and expanding into new regions where there is a demand for these kinds of applications. Localizing mobile apps is one technique to gain this visibility on a global scale.
You may be wondering how this is even possible if you have never utilized a smartphone app to improve your driving experience. We’ve gathered helpful data on how driving is changing thanks to mobile phone applications, and we’ve explained why everyone has to be ready to accept the next wave of change in the auto sector.
Undoubtedly, one of humanity’s finest and most significant creations is the automobile. They are easily accessible, the most widely used form of transportation in the world, and the development of automobile apps elevates the situation. With the emergence of vehicle apps, cars become even more amazing than they currently are. Platforms like Android Auto are designed to be secure and simple to use because it is risky to operate a vehicle while holding a phone in your hand. You’ll need to be aware of which applications work with it so that you can keep your eyes on the road and your ears alert. These are the most wonderful tools for improving the enjoyment of every car travel.
Automobile applications may be used to hire a car, get the cheapest gas prices or the most effective routes, find your next automobile, make using your phone while driving safer, or even locate your car if you can’t remember where you parked it. It’s essential to download the top apps in advance because phones have limited capacity and you don’t want to burn up all of your mobile data while driving and downloading apps.
Vehicle management solutions have made the most rapid advancements of any of them. But increasing speed also means more friction, which needs balance. No matter how large the industry is, if it doesn’t keep up with the current trends, it will disappear. In today’s fast-paced culture, vehicles are growing increasingly numerous and feature-rich. Your smartphone can connect to modern automobiles to provide services like GPS tracking, music, and more.
Vehicle applications are becoming increasingly popular, and a ton of new ones are entering the market. With so many chances, programmers are tackling the issue and giving the market new functionality.
The automotive business is relying on technology, such as social media, mobility, and disruptive solutions, to meet the requirements of the moment. The present state of automotive app development makes all of this possible. Keeping in mind the change in consumers, several automakers are developing innovative new mobile applications for vehicle owners, auto component vendors, dealers, and mechanics that can easily engage with their clients.
Distracted Driving is combated by Mobile Apps
Even though distracted driving is not a recent concern, it still exists and becomes worse every day. Road incidents that are directly connected to inattentive driving result in people getting harmed and others losing their lives. Our cell phones contribute significantly to the rise in incidents involving distracted driving.
Most people are unaware of the fact that many developers who work for mobile app development companies have also produced mobile applications that enhance driving, give your smartphone strength, and turn it into a tool that fights distracted driving rather than contributes to it. To keep your focus off your phone and on the road, distracted driving applications reward safe driving or even forbid you from using your phone while you’re behind the wheel.
The fact that individuals are used to bringing their material with them everywhere they go, including their music, podcasts, access to prime-time news, and even social networking, appears to be recognized by automakers as well.
This is the main justification for certain automobiles’ integration with smartphone technology, which enables users to stream music from their cell phones while driving. Some automakers have gone a step further and are now working with partners like Fox Sports, The New York Times, Spotify, and The Weather Channel to create distinctive applications that give drivers a lot more flexibility.
App for Every Driving Situation
It’s important to note that truck drivers and other motor vehicle professionals utilize smartphone applications. In reality, the number of tracking applications accessible to truck drivers has suddenly increased as a result of the growing usage of mobile apps in the car sector. At least 90% of truck drivers have a tracking device installed on one or more of their mobile devices. To improve their service delivery, the majority of big fleets have made significant investments in mobile apps.
For instance, Zonar, a provider of fleet management software and telematics, recently unveiled the FieldView app, which enables managers to monitor drivers and cars in the field even when they are not at their desks. Several applications fall under the categories of the fleet, freight, and driver-focused apps.
1. Google Maps
Google Maps is without a doubt the most frequently used app for Android Auto. No matter where you are, it is one of the most precise and effective mapping applications that offers turn-by-turn directions. Simply utter the name of a business or an address into the voice search button on your steering wheel, and your car’s display will display all the pertinent information.
There is no requirement for a subscription, and it is moreover frequently updated. With such a large user base and excellent driving instructions that few rivals can match, Maps is the top choice for Android Auto users. Additionally, the map responds to illumination, offering bright and dark themes and switching between them when you approach a tunnel, for example. Maps are therefore an obvious option for in-car navigation for anyone using Android Auto. Waze is also excellent (thus why it is on the list), but Maps has a lot more features, such as offline capability.
2. Audible: audiobooks and podcasts
For all of you who enjoy audiobooks, here is one for you. It’s a fantastic idea to listen to an audiobook while you’re driving, and now that Audible is compatible with Android Auto, you can do it with ease. The collection of audiobooks is excellent because Amazon owns Audible.
Additionally, the app provides podcasts (a worry for some since conglomerates buying up shows will result in them controlling what used to be an open market). On the Amazon shop, you can also buy audiobooks that come with your e-books, which is a terrific way to save money on Kindle and Audible purchases. The best part is that Audible has useful features that make it simple to resume where you left off and to repeat anything you missed while preoccupied. It’s a fantastic option for listening while traveling.
3. Waze: Live Navigation, Traffic Alerts, and GPS
Waze is continually being developed and is a fantastic navigation tool in and of itself. Anyone may use the crowdsourcing system to report traffic accidents or other delays so the rest of us can get up-to-date information. This enables drivers to select effective routes. Because of its brilliance, Google purchased the service. But because of the efforts of its users, Waze continues to provide accurate real-time traffic despite the lack of offline capability. Additionally, Waze works nicely with Android Auto and even lets you start apps from within. Waze makes for a great traveling buddy.
 4. Spotify: Podcasts and music
Spotify is unquestionably a top option if you’re searching for a single program that can play both your favorite podcasts and your favorite tunes. It has a big collection, and even the young podcast section is expanding rapidly. A few episodes are exclusive to the service. There is something to be said about being able to carry your music collection with you everywhere you go, especially because you can access that library pretty much anywhere, even if exclusivity is rarely good for customers as it eliminates competition from the market. When combined with Google’s voice commands, you may now listen to music hands-free while driving.
Additionally, if you don’t mind a few commercials running between songs and podcasts, you don’t need to pay for Spotify’s premium service. Overall, Spotify is a very user-friendly streaming service that is excellent with Android Auto.
5. Autovaras: Android car assistant
While there are occasionally few options when it comes to auto-focused applications for Android Auto, depending on what you’re searching for, Autovaras stands out because of its expiry date tracking. Just enter the dates for items like your next car inspection, your insurance renewal, or the expiration of your plates. This vital information will always be visible to you, ensuring that you don’t forget any deadlines that might jeopardize your license. Autovaras might be a straightforward release, but it is a useful one. You can download the program for nothing because there are no costs associated with it.
6. Pocket Casts
Many streaming services, such as Spotify and Audible, accept podcasts, but if you’re seeking a specific podcast app, Pocket Casts has been around since 2011. Despite poor luck with its owners, who have had to sell the business many times, it’s an oldie but a goodie that is still running strong. Pocket Casts is ideal for lengthy rides since it has a hands-free queuing function that makes it simple to set up a list to listen to podcasts.
The software easily integrates with Android Auto and Assistant, ensuring that your hands are free even if you want to modify what you previously configured. Therefore, Pocket Casts is a terrific place to start if you’re a podcast fanatic who needs control over your whole collection for daily commutes.
7. GasBuddy
No matter where you are, the GasBuddy app leverages crowdsourced data to help you find the cheapest gas prices. On the GasBuddy website or app, users may report gas prices, and the app can also be used to check that information while driving. Although this software may be downloaded for free, two premium yearly memberships offer extras like inexpensive gas and roadside help to improve the user experience. Additionally, you may sign up for their no-cost Pay with GasBuddy service to receive a small gas discount at participating locations.
8. Uber: The Rideshare Giant
With its headquarters in San Francisco, Uber is a well-known app and one of the biggest digital firms ever. With an estimated 110 million consumers worldwide, the ridesharing company took the lead in fundamentally changing the transportation sector. Many people refer to the commoditization of existing service models employing mobile technology as “Uberization,” which describes their business strategy. Companies now provide a variety of services directly through their applications, such as shopping, meal delivery, housekeeping, and a host of others. Thanks to Uber, this transition was made feasible.
With UberPOOL, which allows customers in select places to enjoy lower prices when they share their journey with other passengers, Uber maintains its reputation for innovation. travelers that make a similar route choice. This not only gained popularity as a method of cost reduction, but it also allowed riders to reduce their carbon footprint.
9. Telegram
There are a ton of texting applications available, and several of them integrate with Google Assistant and Android Auto. Telegram is the one that regularly sticks out. There is no need for a web app because sending messages is quick, everything is secured, all information is synchronized throughout your whole account (so you can continue where you left off when switching from PC to Android), and you may remove your messages at any moment. Additionally, the software is updated often. There’s a lot to appreciate about this, and you can easily drive hands-free thanks to Telegram’s compatibility with Google Assistant and Android Auto.
10. LYFT
The San Francisco-based car-sharing service Lyft is available in hundreds of locations all around North America. The firm claims to offer a cheap, distinctive, and warm riding experience. Unlike Uber, Lyft has its own brand identity. While Uber describes itself as “your driver,” Lyft calls itself “your buddy with a vehicle.” Although the modifications might not seem significant, they led to a distinctive experience for both drivers and passengers. In other words, it helped its users develop a remarkable “culture.”
Before the outbreak, Lyft riders often sat in the front vehicle and engaged in more conversation with the driver. Uber users typically sat in the backseat and avoided conversation. Lyft and other comparable applications are interesting to look at since they used a different strategy than Uber, which has been successful. They seem to have a loyal clientele, and some people think they may someday supplant Uber in the US market.
Driverless cars and mobile apps will work collaboratively.
As Google, Uber, and Tesla compete to introduce the first consumer self-driving car, the auto manufacturing business is going to see a big breakthrough. Moving about is only a small part of it, though. Once these cars are fully operational, we could stop using the steering wheel since the smartphone will serve as the new control center for the vehicle. The autonomous car will make driving safer and more convenient, but how will these driverless cars and smartphone apps interact is the key question.
Since we already see how smartphones are becoming more intimately integrated with different automobiles through services like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, this won’t be a novel development. The introduction of autonomous vehicles will only improve the technology used by certain manufacturers, like Hyundai, to provide users with remote car controls via smartphone apps.
Conclusion
Vehicles are becoming more numerous and feature-rich in today’s fast-paced society. The majority of modern cars can connect to your cellphones and provide you with features like GPS tracking, music, and much more. Many new apps are already entering the market as a result of the growing popularity of automotive apps. If not carefully planned, driving may be a demanding and expensive activity. Thus, the aforementioned applications may be helpful when planning for things like gas costs, the best routes, and finding parking spots, among other things.
The mobile app market will keep growing quickly, and the field of mobile app development will change. Mobile app solutions will continue to be driven by the developing backend platforms, micro services, and mobile app platforms as well as new hardware capabilities. The only means of surviving the fierce competition are continual learning and attentiveness.
These applications, particularly those that deal with route planning, ridesharing and carpooling, parking, traffic safety, and travel information, might be useful to the general traveling public. The widespread use of these applications can help drivers cut down on their trip time and fuel expenses.
Today, when everyone is rushing about, the finest automobile applications can help you travel easily and in a variety of other ways. As technology develops, the creators of these applications are concentrating on updating them often to include new functionality. The advancements in app development will undoubtedly give driving the futuristic edge that we previously only saw in movies and raise the value of automobiles to something much more than just a mode of transportation.
edited and proofread by nikita sharma
