Audi Connect now with Google Streetview, Internet radio

After Audi announced Google Earth integration in the 2011 A8, the next obvious question we had was when Google Street View was coming. The only response we got: "Just wait."

Well, the waiting is over. Audi announced today that Street View – Google's relentless outdoor photographing service – will join the high-resolution aerial and satellite images embedded in Audi's Connect infotainment system.

According to Audi, the system pre-loads data for your selected route and then integrates with your smartphone's UTMS module to provide a 360-degree view for the driver – most helpful when looking for a specific business or residence in a congested urban area.

Audi also announced its "music stream" service, which, like BMW's Internet Radio functionality, allows drivers to select from over 4,000 internet radio stations from around the world and stream them through the stereo.

New Audi connect services: Internet radio and Google Street View

In-car reception of over 4,000 internet radio stations worldwide through the new "Audi music stream" app

Audi connect and Google Street View enable new navigation based on true-to-life street visualization

Audi's new "Audi music stream" application lets drivers tune in to international radio stations via the internet. And how about picturing your destination as you drive there? No problem: Just call up real-life images via Street View.

"Audi music stream" introduces a new Audi connect service. This smartphone app lets drivers tune into radio stations via the internet and store them in their Audi infotainment system. A driver's smartphone can be connected to an MMI navigation plus system via WLAN. If there is nothing worthwhile on the radio, just access the phone's music library wirelessly via the MMI, choose a file and play it.

Navigation with Google Earth images and Street View means you can now view high-resolution aerial and satellite images, photos, land formations, streets and their names as well as business information in your car. The system pre-loads data for your selected route and merges them with information from MMI navigation plus. The Bluetooth online car phone's UMTS module makes true-to-life 360° panorama pedestrian's eye-view images available in-car.

Audi connect stands for connected mobility combining all applications and developments linking existing and future Audi models to the internet, to their owner and to the surrounding infrastructure. A built-in UMTS module and a customer's SIM card on board the car integrate online information such as navigation with point-of-interest search, Google Earth images and Street View, weather, news, Audi traffic information online or Audi music stream, directly into Audi's optional MMI navigation plus.

A WLAN hotspot connects mobile devices to the internet from the rear seats while driving or from all seats when the car is stopped. Audi connect thus stands for extraordinary infotainment and entertainment capabilities that raise in-car comfort and fun to a new level.