GM Teaming with Google to Bring Android Powered Cars to the Masses?

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On October 22nd, 2008 when the Android 1.5 powered T-Mobile G1 hit the streets, the world saw for the first time what Google had been cookin’ over in their labs. Flash forward a few years and the Android platform has seen several iterations (currently on version 2.1) and has been the underlying operating system for an increasing number of different products. Obviously you have the handsets and cellphones but then there is also tablets and even netbooks getting powered by the little green robot. However, have you ever wondered just how flexible Google’s Android mobile operating system really is? Well, if rumors are to be believed the answer to that would be pretty damn flexible.

The reason I say this is because those rumors state that the once ailing automaker, GM, and thw search behemoth, Google, are teaming up to bring the Android operating system to automobiles. Of course, if this is true it most likely means Android will be behind providing drivers with things like CD/DVD playback in addition to GPS; not actually managing the engine and all of that jazz you would expect a normal car computer to do.

Then again, GM did just say the other day that they had found a partner to help beef up their OnStar service so perhaps Google’s Android is that partner?

Unfortunately, as cool as this sounds, there has been no official word as to whether or not these rumors have any merit so we’re just going to have to wait and see if our sources are correct and GM and Google really have something in the works. If it is true, the possibilities of what your Android powered car can do are seemingly endless; pop a 3G SIM card in there, root the vehicle and tether your laptop to it. Crazy, but then again if 5 years ago I told you Google would be developing automobile operating systems you would call me crazy too.