I see that there is some speculation that Apple and Volkswagen might just collaborate in a joint venture to build what the said speculators are calling the iCar - a marriage of Apple's and VW's technologies to produce a sort of office on four wheels. Great - since computers have a habit of driving us round the bend and up the wall, we might now have one with wheels that will drive us round the corner as well - to the local café. Most pundits seem to be taking the view that they will believe it when they see it, but there are a couple of precedents, of a sort... Ford, in co-operation with Microsoft, is apparently intending to introduce Sync, an in-car communication and entertainment system, that will allow you, the driver, to have text messages read to you aloud, and select the digital music you want to hear. BMW and Intel got together to create a mobile office apparatus for its Series 7, giving drivers access to wireless LAN and to a Bluetooth-enabled printer. But that's a far cry from what speculators reckon Apple and VW could be planning, which, if they are correct, would be a complete integration of the two technologies. So, no one is actually holding their breath of this one. Probably just as well - what happens if it freezes at a traffic light, or crashes twice a day, or asks you "Are you sure?" as you hit the brakes just 15m from the car in front - it's stationary but you're doing 60...


Rod Baker, Content Manager: Send your news to: retailnews@bizcommunity.com; or visit https://www.bizcommunity.com.