ABI Research’s new “Telematics Smartphone Applications”study covers the different types of telematics smartphone application drivers and barriers, main players and solutions, as well as user interface and safety issues. It includes detailed subscriber and revenue forecasts.

According to the study, the next five years, commencing from 2011, promises to be an exciting phase for software developers and service providers as smartphone applications threaten to flood the market with new solutions being announced everyday.

Such a scenario spells good news for global users of telematics smartphone applications. The latest ABI research forecasts a dramatic increase in such global users as they increase from 3.2 million in 2011 to 129 million in 2016. North America seems to figure prominently as the dominant region. .

Practice director Dominique Bonte commented on the integration of smartphone and smartphone applications into vehicles and said that it represented a renaissance of the interest in both the consumer and commercial telematics markets. With just about everyone concerned rushing to bring new smartphone apps to the market., even Car OEMs, automotive Tier Ones and independent developers, determined not to be left behind, are in the app fray and the automotive industry does appear to be in for a huge app make over.

Telematics smartphone applications appear across many categories including infotainment, remote control, remote diagnostics, driver monitoring, advanced navigation and others, not forgetting the social media apps. All these apps could either be standalone or connected to the vehicle.

Exciting as all this may be, the main issue of safety could be compromised to a certain extent. Although car OEMs can bring cheap connectivity and innovative features to the market quickly, they will be forced to hand over the actual business opportunities to the mobile industry, compromising on quality and safety.

And, in-car apps distracts drivers. While Apple’s (News - Alert) iPod Out and Nokia’s Terminal Mode allow users to control and display phone apps using in-car controls and displays, the end-to-end control over HMI design is relinquished by car OEMs to third party developers. So the basic issue still remains.