2015 Audi A3 Dials up New Smartphone App for Enhanced Connectivity

Anupam Malhotra, senior manager of Connected Vehicles for Audi of America, is pulling no punches when it comes to the new 'MMI connect App' for the 2015 Audi A3. According to Malhotra, “This is the most advanced driver companion app Audi has ever launched," boasting "intuitive technology and easy-to-use features that not only increase functionality, but make the ownership experience fun and even more enjoyable.”

Integrating with owners' pre-existing myAudi accounts, and designed to automatically synch with the MMI Navigation system that's also available for the 2015 Audi A3, the MMI connect App will showcase four significant enhancements for drivers, including the ability to search for a destination via Google Maps before starting a trip, then electronically send that info to the navigation system.

Alternatively, owners don't even have to enter any search parameters at all for the new technology to get them where they want to go, since it also provides a "picture destination" function. With this benefit, drivers can send any geo-coded digital photo to the 2015 Audi A3, which can then use the image's data to provide nav directions.

Need directions to your car in the first place? The MMI connect App can be used to "remember" the location of a parked 2015 Audi A3 and guide the owner back to it, and the technology also can store photos that show local landmarks, etc., for additional assistance.

Finally, by leveraging the 4G LTE wi-fi capability of the 2015 Audi A3, drivers can open up the wide world of audio streaming, complete with access to thousands of Internet-based radio stations and any music files already stored on the owners' smartphones. As a bonus feature, the app enables smartphone users to stream web-based music sources even when they're not in the 2015 Audi A3.

The MMI connect App currently is available at the iTunes store, and Audi expects to release an Android version in the near future. To see the setup in action, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzmB6GQkFY8&feature=youtu.be.