You've seen it on Greyhound buses, you've seen in on airplanes and it may be soon be coming to your car.
Smart Mixed-Signal Connectivity (SMSC), a Hauppauge, New York-based software company, recently announced it had developed a chip to bring Ethernet into consumer vehicles, known as the low-power TrueAutoTM LAN88730 MII/RMII 10/100 automotive Ethernet transceiver.
The company states the LAN88730 can meet the high reliability of automotive applications, such as navigation systems, radio head units, connectivity devices, on-board diagnostics and fast software download interfaces for central gateway and telematics modules.
SMSC isn't the only company capitalizing on consumers demands for better internet connectivity in cars.
Earlier this year, Broadcom announced it was developing a ethernet system known as the BroadR-Reach, which would bring 100 Mbps Ethernet to next generation vehicles.
Vehicles currently use low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) cabling, which the company states is bulky, low and expensive. The BroadR-Reach would consist of a single pair of unshielded Ethernet cables, which the company boasts would reduce connectivity costs by 80 percent and cabling weight by 30 percent.
SMSC has a similar goal with the LAN88730.
"When using today's traditional diagnostics interfaces, transferring data between the diagnostics bay and the car can be time consuming," said Dr. Christian Thiel, Senior Vice President and General Manager of SMSC's Automotive Products Group, in a press release. "SMSC's new Ethernet transceiver delivers high data speed with our TrueAuto quality, offering the reliability grade that our automotive customers expect."
There have been several recent programs - such as the Toyota Entune and Ford Sync - which integrate mobile phone apps to provide traffic information, radio and other services. Many analysts say bringing Ethernet chips into cars is the next logical step.
SMSC says the LAN88730 is available now.
Broadcom said BMW will manufacture the first vehicle with BroadR-Reach in 2013.
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