Industry-leading FOTA Solution Makes Remote Updating of In-vehicle Infotainment Software Fast, Easy and Reliable

WALTHAM, Mass. and OTTAWA, Ontario - June 1, 2011 - Red Bend Software, the market leader in mobile software management (MSM) with more than 1 billion Red Bend-Enabled™ devices, and QNX Software Systems Limited, a global leader in operating systems and middleware for the in-car telematics and infotainment market, today announced that Red Bend’s vRapid Mobile® solution for over-the-air software updating has been ported to the QNX® Neutrino® Realtime Operating System (RTOS).
Red Bend logo
Red Bend logo

QNX Software Systems, a subsidiary of Research In Motion Limited (RIM), has licensed its software technology for use in more than 20 million automotive systems worldwide. Automakers such as Acura, Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, and Toyota use the QNX Neutrino RTOS in their digital instrument clusters, handsfree systems, multimedia head units, connectivity modules, and 3D navigation systems.

Red Bend’s vRapid Mobile is the leading end-to-end, standards-based solution for updating in-vehicle software and applications over the air, and has been adopted for use in a variety of vehicles, including trucks, electric cars and heavy equipment. Red Bend’s firmware over-the-air (FOTA) software can significantly reduce the time and cost for manufacturers to update in-vehicle software, add new applications and manage the software lifecycle remotely. The software eliminates the need for consumers or fleet owners to bring their vehicles back to the dealer for critical and routine software-related maintenance, contributing to greater customer satisfaction.

Red Bend’s FOTA software provides automakers with the following benefits:

    Create new revenue opportunities by deploying applications and feature upgrades to on-board infotainment systems to differentiate the driving experience.

    Decrease recall rates and reduce warranty costs by using over-the-air updates to reach more vehicles than hands-on maintenance.

    Ensure systems are always connected and functioning by remotely monitoring and troubleshooting performance issues.

Linda Campbell, director of strategic alliances at QNX Software Systems, said: “The ability to deliver over-the-air mobile software updates is important to the success of the increasingly sophisticated on-board infotainment systems that our automotive customers are implementing today. Red Bend is a leader in over-the-air software updating, and we look forward to our continued development work with them for the automotive infotainment market.”

Lori Sylvia, executive vice president of marketing for Red Bend Software said: “Today’s high-end vehicles contain up to 100 MB of software code and 60 or more electronic control units, which make the ability to update software over the air essential for successful operation and maintenance. vRapid Mobile helps automakers ensure that their systems are up-to-date with the latest features and improvements, thereby reducing support costs and improving customer satisfaction. We look forward to working with QNX Software Systems to make the managed car a reality.”