INRIX has announced a partnership with open source software company Canonical to provide traffic, incident and parking intelligence for the world’s first Ubuntu smartphone, BQ’s Aquaris E4.5.
Canonical’s unique “Scopes” system enables users to access information direct from the home screen, with the “NearBy” Scope making information about local amenities and important information on the user’s vicinity accessible. The new handset will feature INRIX’s traffic intelligence via the NearBy Scope, providing users with crucial information including:
Incident alerts. Incident alerts tell users what to expect on the road ahead, including details about the incident and its expected impact, ensuring users always know the quickest route to their destination.
Traffic cameras. NearBy Scope users will enjoy real-time static images and video feeds (where available) from local traffic cameras along major roadways, providing users with unparalleled visibility and insight into traffic conditions on the road ahead.
Parking location, information and availability data. This feature provides information for off-street parking facilities in the local area, including crucial data on pricing, maximum stay duration and even live parking availability.
Canonical’s Scopes system is a complete reinvention of the traditional mobile UI. Scopes present a new way to rapidly and visually access the most important digital life services – travel, music, social, web, local services, photos and more – directly on the home screen.
The elements of the NearBy Scope powered by INRIX data are built on INRIX’s Mobile Development Kit (MDK), which provides partners with access to real-time traffic speeds on maps, alerts to accidents, construction, road closures, events and other incidents and calculates travel times and ETAs in traffic. The INRIX MDK enables developers to build solutions using INRIX data, enabling companies to create their own native proprietary apps to offer this experience to their customers.