Rogers Communications Inc.  and American communications brand Sprint, are actively creating a plan to deploy smartcars in Canada. No, smartcars are not related to the two-seated go-carts that populate the streets of Vancouver; however, smartcars are referring to automobiles that go beyond the typical protocols of a car, in this case automobiles that contain mobile hot spots. Smartcars are blurring the lines between market segments; by combining two previously separate markets of home Internet with automobiles.

Blurring the lines between markets is not a new concept. A similar outcome has been achieved in the mobile phone industry. A current day smartphone is a combination of multiple previously separate markets like electronic day timers, cameras, mp3 players, portable video game consoles, and even everyday tools like compass’s and flashlights.

In class, the topic of Apple’s concern over the decline in popularity of the iPod was brought to question. My opinion was no, because the market shifted toward the iPhone where it too has an iPod in addition to many more tools.

If smartcars follow in the footsteps of mobile phones, then who knows what may happen to cars in the future. Rogers has a track record of shifting with the industry. Originally a video rental company, to a communications company, and now Rogers is applying their communications background to automobiles.

Article Link: http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/personal-tech/Rogers+Sprint+launch+Internet+connectivity+cars/8964799/story.html