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Apple has reportedly hired the former leader of BlackBerry’s automotive software division, and people familiar with the matter claim that the Cupertino giant has shifted its plan from building an electric self-driving car to software solutions.
According to the Bloomberg report quoting people familiar with the matter, Apple will only develop self-driving technology for cars, instead of building a car that features the technology.
The change in Apple’s Project Titan, the company’s automotive initiative, is claimed to be linked to the hire of Bob Mansfield, a veteran Apple executive that now leads the division.
The same reports, put together by Automotive News, show that Apple also hired Dan Dodge, the former founder and CEO of QNX, a company that developed operating systems, which was acquired by BlackBerry.
Mr. Dodge is claimed to be a part of the team led by Bob Mansfield, and his job will focus on the development of self-driving car technology, with particular attention to software that allows cars to drive themselves.
It is worth noting that the reports do not claim that Apple has abandoned plans to build a car, but they might have been placed in Neutral, while self-driving car software is shifted into high gear with the throttle fully open.
Instead of designing and building a car from scratch, Apple could have the possibility of developing an advanced software solution to help existing or future vehicles to drive themselves.
Apple representatives contacted by Automotive News have declined to comment any of the rumors relating this matter. We must underline that Apple has a habit of not discussing any hearsay regarding future products, so this story is no different from any other regarding plans made by the Cupertino giant.
A significant difference between Apple and Google is the former’s focus on bringing hardware and software solutions together. Apple does not sell its software to third-party companies, and iOS only runs on devices made by the corporation.
Meanwhile, just about any manufacturer can sign a deal with Google and build Android-powered devices. With this in mind, we would take the news of an Apple-powered software solution for such a complex matter with a grain of salt.
The change in Apple’s Project Titan, the company’s automotive initiative, is claimed to be linked to the hire of Bob Mansfield, a veteran Apple executive that now leads the division.
The same reports, put together by Automotive News, show that Apple also hired Dan Dodge, the former founder and CEO of QNX, a company that developed operating systems, which was acquired by BlackBerry.
Mr. Dodge is claimed to be a part of the team led by Bob Mansfield, and his job will focus on the development of self-driving car technology, with particular attention to software that allows cars to drive themselves.
It is worth noting that the reports do not claim that Apple has abandoned plans to build a car, but they might have been placed in Neutral, while self-driving car software is shifted into high gear with the throttle fully open.
Instead of designing and building a car from scratch, Apple could have the possibility of developing an advanced software solution to help existing or future vehicles to drive themselves.
Apple representatives contacted by Automotive News have declined to comment any of the rumors relating this matter. We must underline that Apple has a habit of not discussing any hearsay regarding future products, so this story is no different from any other regarding plans made by the Cupertino giant.
A significant difference between Apple and Google is the former’s focus on bringing hardware and software solutions together. Apple does not sell its software to third-party companies, and iOS only runs on devices made by the corporation.
Meanwhile, just about any manufacturer can sign a deal with Google and build Android-powered devices. With this in mind, we would take the news of an Apple-powered software solution for such a complex matter with a grain of salt.
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