Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

Volvo jumps on the connected watch bandwagon with new app

By

Following the path blazed by rivals Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and BMW, Sweden’s Volvo has introduced a car control application designed for smartwatches such as the Android Wear and the brand new Apple Watch.

Volvo’s software is essentially an updated version of the Volvo On Call app that has been available for smartphones and tablets for the past couple of years. The app has been given a brand new design inspired by the state-of-the-art infotainment system found in the new XC90.

Recommended Videos

Volvo owners can use their connected watch to instantly find their car in a crowded parking lot, and they can remotely lock it and unlock it without having to find their keys or get their phone out. However, one of the most practical features of the Volvo On Call app is the ability to set the climate control. Owners can use their watch to turn the heater on before they head out on a chilly winter morning, or to turn the A/C on before they step out into the scorching heat to ensure the cockpit is at a comfortable temperature.

Related

The updated app also allows Volvo drivers to check the mileage of their car, see how much fuel is left in the tank, get an estimate of how far they can drive before filling up, and receive instant service reminders. Additionally, plug-in hybrid drivers will likely be able to use the app to start, schedule, and stop the charging process.

Smartwatch-clad Volvo owners can download Volvo On Call right now, but the company is already planning on releasing an updated version of the app that will include enhanced send-to-car capabilities for the navigation system. When the update is ready, drivers will be able to send an address directly from their connected watch to their Volvo’s navigation system.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon
Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
Have an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch? You need to update it right now
iPhone 14 Pro Max against a red background.

If you own an Apple product — be in the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or a Mac — you should update it immediately. Why? Apple has begun rolling out updates to all of its devices with fixes for a serious security vulnerability.

The security vulnerability is known as CVE-2023-32434, and it has to do with the kernel privileges of Apple devices. Per Apple's website, the vulnerability allows third-party apps to "execute arbitrary code." In other words, if a bad actor knows how to exploit this vulnerability, they could potentially gain access to your Apple device and wreck havoc.

Read more
The Apple Watch’s worst feature isn’t getting better with watchOS 10
Person wearing Apple Watch showing Sleep Tracking information.

Apple Watch Series 8 Joe Maring/Digital Trends

The Apple Watch is perhaps the most popular smartwatch on the market — and for the right reasons. The vast number of features, a number of sport tracking modes, and tight integration with the iPhone make it one of the best smartwatches to buy for most people.

Read more
I thought I would hate the Apple Watch Ultra, but I love it
Someone wearing the Apple Watch Ultra with the Wayfinder face.

When Apple pulled back the curtains on the Apple Watch Ultra last September, it didn't click with me at all. I'm a longtime Apple Watch wearer and love a lot about what Apple's done with the product line, but the idea of strapping on a 49mm smartwatch to my tiny, bony wrists sounded like a horrible idea.

That apprehension has continued since then. Even with my colleagues talking about how to properly wear the Apple Watch Ultra and arguing that the smartwatch really isn't too big,  I still wasn't convinced that the Watch Ultra was for me.

Read more