Mercedes-Benz Shows myCOMMAND, In-car Internet

At this year’s LA Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz is showing off what could be the future of its in-car "infotainment" system, called myCOMMAND.

Let’s be honest. Unless you’re shelling out some serious dough on a Bentley, Rolls Royce or some other kind of elite, top-shelf automobile, the interiors of most luxury cars, while nice, are the same. Leather, wood trim, OnStar, and one primary knob controlling most of the cabins functions are now the norm. So what is the next step for automakers and the interiors they make you drool over? In-car infotainment with Internet access seems to be the answer.

At the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show, Mercedes-Benz is showing off what could be the norm for its cars’ interiors starting in a few years. The myCOMMAND system, as it’s called, will take what we expect in a car (GPS, radio, etc.) to the next level. By using cellular data networks across the world, MB will allow drivers to download data for a myriad of uses while driving. At the core will be Internet access as we know it, allowing users "to surf the internet in the accustomed way," says BenzInsider — obviously not while driving, we hope. When it comes to GPS, myCOMMAND will be able to download traffic reports and use them to adjust your route in real time, as well as tap into Internet radio stations.

While services like OnStar allow you make phone calls through your car, myCOMMAND will allow for Internet telephony, which means free phone calls as well as "sending short messages via internet and simultaneously transmitting voice and data."

The entire system is operated with one primary knob, and two side buttons which are for menu controls and "back button" functionality. The myCOMMAND interface is essentially a large globe surrounded by pages. Each page, which will likely be customizable to some degree, will represent different functions or favorite websites. This way, you could have GPS and VoIP on tab, as well as the New York Times and ESPN websites at the ready in case you’re stuck in bumper to bumper traffic and want something to read.

While the myCOMMAND system is intriguing, Mercedes-Benz is not the only company on the block that’s pursuing this new "infotainment" market. At IDF San Francisco earlier this year, BMW showed off its own infotainment system, which used Intel’s WiMax technology to connect to the Internet. BMW indicated that it hopes to bring entertainment and GPS functionality into a 3-series convertible as a first step. Also, Dodge is now offering in-car WiFi on its Ram series of trucks. With all this innovation regarding connectivity in your car, we can only hope that "infotainment" becomes the norm for all automakers within the next few years.