Microsoft partners with India’s Ola to power connected car platform

Microsoft is teaming up with Indian transportation network company Ola to build a new connected car platform powered by the Microsoft Cloud. India’s Uber rival has chosen Microsoft Azure to improve Ola Play, the connected car platform for ride sharing that the company launched in late 2016.

From the start, Ola Play has been designed to improve the in-car experience for Ola customers with connected services accessible from smartphones and tablets. The new partnership with Microsoft will benefit both drivers and Ola Play customers:

Ola Play customers will be able to use productivity tools such as Office 365 and Skype for Business, as well as voice-assisted controls built using Microsoft Cognitive Services and Bot framework, in-car during their rides. The advanced telematics platform will transform the car into a high-performing, intelligent vehicle, capable of assessing fuel efficiency, engine performance, and driver performance. It will also enable smarter navigation and predict breakdowns, enhancing safety and security while creating new business models and opportunities.

Microsoft and Ola also announced today that the Azure-powered Olay Play plaftorm will be offered to all car manufacturers interested in integrating it with their vehicle systems. “Today’s car is quickly becoming the ultimate computing device and together with Ola, we’re focused on providing more intelligent, connected and productive experiences to our customers,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. “The combination of Microsoft Azure, Office 365 and our AI platform with Ola Play will deliver new customer experiences and business opportunities across the automotive ecosystem.”