If you really can’t let go of the office, even for a drive up the road, BMW has partnered with Microsoft to release the most expensive Skype accessory on the market. Selected BMW 5-Series cars with the Bavarian car maker’s iDrive system can now use Skype for Business, as well as Office 365, while in transit.
The new integration, announced on Microsoft’s blog, will be initially offered in France, Germany and the UK with other countries to follow.
Dieter May, BMW senior vice president, Digital Products and Services, says, “The integration of productivity features in-car (like Exchange and Skype for Business) and personalized and contextual services will help customers with their day-to-day work and planning while they are on the road”.
Is this a bridge too far? Surely the integration of business features into your car further blurs the line between work and play. When I get in my car, it’s one of the few places where I can disconnect for a while. And let’s think about the potential safety issues. We already have laws prohibiting drivers from using mobile phones, even for maps, while driving.
Imagine if you’re in a crash and you tell the cops “I wasn’t on my phone – it was a Skype call with the office handled through the car”.
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