At the Telematics Detroit conference, BlackBerry demonstrated to automakers how its platform could be used to send wireless software updates to cars.
BlackBerry noted that cars are coming out with feature-rich software in the dashboard for navigation, hands-free phone calls, and audio. BlackBerry's back-end platform allows automakers to remotely update this software, potentially adding features.
The platform was built on BlackBerry's existing capability of updating its mobile handsets over the air.
Tesla and Audi already have independently deployed this capability, offering customers wireless updates to dashboard features and, with Tesla's Model S, actual driving performance software.
BlackBerry's biggest hurdle to adoption of its platform among automakers is the proportion of vehicles that actually have a built-in data connection. Those that do tend to have an already robust telematics architecture, such as OnStar, which should be capable of delivering wireless updates.