The car as Office: Mercedes integrates Teams, Intune and Copilot

While Chinese car manufacturers are increasingly turning their vehicles into a mobile entertainment centers with features such as karaoke, laser or LED projectors, and retractable screens, German manufacturers are looking to transform their vehicles into mobile offices. Mercedes-Benz, for example, is expanding its collaboration with Microsoft.

The Stuttgart-based company is bringing the Microsoft Teams meeting app into the vehicle and also integrating the cloud-based management solution Microsoft Intune. The partners are also working on offering Microsoft 365 Copilot in the car. In this way, the auto maker’s ambitious goal is to “transform the vehicle into a third workplace that complements the office and the home office.”

Teams uses the car’s camera

Mercedes wants to use the Teams meeting app to “take productivity in the car to a new level,” it said. Users can use the interior camera while driving so that other participants can see them during a meeting.

While German car manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz see the car as a mobile office, Chinese manufacturers are focusing on the leisure aspect – for example with a video projector and screen.
Hill

Mercedes-Benz emphasizes that the use of the camera complies with the law and is approved for use on the road. To minimize distractions and maximize safety while driving, the meeting video stream switches off automatically as soon as the camera is activated. This means that no shared screens or slides can be seen. The camera can also be switched off at any time.

Emails by voice input

The updated Meetings for Teams app also offers business customers an even more efficient way to work in the vehicle. For example, a new dashboard under “Next meetings” shows upcoming appointments and enables quick access to frequently used contacts. An extended chat function is also designed to make it easier to read and write messages. Text is entered using voice control. Users can also take part in a Teams meeting directly from the calendar.

To ensure that security is not neglected, Mercedes-Benz has integrated Microsoft Intune to enable secure, company-compliant access to business accounts. The management solution enables the separation of private and business data. It also enables IT administrators to centrally manage access rights and security policies. In this way, the car manufacturer wants to ensure that its vehicles can meet the same corporate-level security standards as mobile devices such as company smartphones.

MB.OS as the technical basis

The technical basis for Teams and Intune in the car is the new Mercedes-Benz operating system MB.OS in conjunction with a fourth-generation MBUX infotainment system. In addition, an active Entertainment Package Plus and data volume are required for use.

Calendar and Teams integration in the new Mercedes-Benz CLA:
Mercedes-Benz

Furthermore, the availability of a number of functions and services depends on the configuration of the vehicle, and which optional extras have been paid for. From the summer, the new CLA will be the first model to receive Teams and Intune integration. Other model series are to follow.

Generative AI for the car

Mercedes-Benz and Microsoft are also working together to integrate Microsoft 365 Copilot into future models. Using generative AI, it should be possible to prepare for upcoming meetings while on the move. Voice control could be used to summarize emails, call up customer preferences and details and complete daily tasks without distraction, the companies said. Mercedes-Benz did not provide any information on when Microsoft 365 Copilot will be introduced in the car.Microsoft boosts Apple and Linux with Windows 11 upgrade tax – ComputerworldRead More