Tech - News
Motorola MA1 Dongle Brings Wireless Android Auto To the Masses
By SANJIV SATHIAH
Android Auto aims to reduce driver distraction while using a mobile phone by transferring your Android phone's major functionality to a more driver-friendly UI shown on a compatible car's in-car display. It leans on Google Assistant's natural voice recognition technology to minimize distraction by letting the driver control music or respond to messages with only their voice.
Prior to the introduction of Android Auto in 2015, drivers had to connect their phones to their cars wirelessly over Bluetooth. When Google and its car-making OEM partners introduced wireless Android Auto in 2018, drivers had to plug their Android phone into their car over a USB cord.
SGW Global, a "Motorola Strategic Brand Partner," has introduced a Motorola branded dongle called the MA1 Wireless Car Adapter for Android Auto. The dongle simply plugs into the USB port of a car with standard Android Auto support connecting over Bluetooth, before establishing a fast 5GHz Wi-Fi connection with a driver's Android phone.
Although your phone won't charge as it would using a hardware USB cord, you can still enjoy the freedom wireless connectivity offers. The Motorola MA1 dongle, which was shown off by Google during its Android Auto presentation at CES 2022, had a release date of January 28, 2022, with a price of $89.95 through the motorolasound.com website.