CES BOOTH #1101 – Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today expanded smartphone connectivity support for its AppRadio^® platform of products with the introduction of new applications and the launch of its AppRadio Development Center (ADC), www.appradiodev.com, a site created for developers interested in making their apps compatible with Pioneer’s lineup of AppRadio products.

Pioneer AppRadio 2 (Photo: Business Wire)

“There are now more than three dozen apps that are compatible with Pioneer’s AppRadio platform. We are excited to work with many of the most popular services and app developers, like Clear Channel’s iHeartRadio^® and the winner of the 2012 South by Southwest (SXSW) App Hackathon, Eat the Road™, to deliver the latest and most in-demand content from the user’s smartphone to the car,” said Ted Cardenas, vice president of marketing for the Car Electronics Division of Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “With the launch of the AppRadio Development Center, we are able to streamline the coordination between third-party app developers and Pioneer, reducing the time needed to establish compatibility between their apps designed for in-vehicle use and the Pioneer AppRadio platform, and ultimately increasing the number of AppRadio compatible apps in the future.”

Pioneer’s AppRadio platform of products includes two AppRadio products and eleven in-dash receivers integrated with the AppRadio Mode functionality (previously named Advanced App Mode), including eight multimedia DVD receivers and three navigation receivers.

New Apps, More Services

New apps being introduced at CES offer users services in a variety of categories including location based services (Beej!^™, Glympse^® and Parkopedia^®), in-car browsing (Maxthon^® Cloud Browser) and Internet Radio (Rdio^® and iHeartRadio for Auto).

iHeartRadio for Auto (iHeartAuto^™), Clear Channel's new all-in-one digital radio app specifically designed for use in-vehicle, offers a simple, safety-minded user-interface that provides seamless access to more than 1,500 live radio stations from across the country. iHeartAuto listeners can also create stations based on their favorite artists or songs, choosing from more than 15 million songs and the top live radio stations in America.

AppRadio Development Center

The new AppRadio Development Center will help grow the library of AppRadio apps, expediting the development process between Pioneer and third party in-vehicle app developers by providing the tools necessary for integrating their apps with the AppRadio platform. These tools include the software development kit, technical support, and additional resources to find all of the information necessary from a single central resource portal. The site will also allow developers to submit their apps for certification, a process that includes meeting Pioneer’s AppRadio and Driver Distraction Guidelines. These guidelines have been created as a reference in the development of apps that are designed or modified specifically for in-vehicle use to promote safe use while driving.

To gain full access to the AppRadio Development Center, developers must first have their app(s) available for download from Google^® Play or the Apple^® App Store. Developers are encouraged to register their companies and apps on www.appradiodev.com to start the review process and help determine whether apps meet the AppRadio platform requirements. If a developer’s app is eligible to be AppRadio compatible, then upon execution of a non-disclosure agreement, Pioneer will provide admission to the AppRadio Developer Program and access to Pioneer’s Software Developer Kit (SDK) for integration with the developer’s iOS or Android app(s). For more information, please visit www.appradiodev.com.

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif., and its U.S. Web address is www.pioneerelectronics.com. Its parent company, Pioneer Corporation, is a preeminent manufacturer of high-performance audio, video and computer equipment for the home, car and business markets and is celebrating 75 years of innovation in the consumer electronics industry.

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NOTE: Read the operation manual as well as all instructions and cautions provided with compatible smartphone apps before use. Become familiar with any applicable state and local laws. Pay attention to the road, limit glances to the device, and do not use any feature if it cannot be operated safely in your location and environment. Distracted driving may result in serious injury, including death.

Pioneer and AppRadio are registered trademarks of Pioneer Corporation.

Google, Google Play and Android are trademarks or registered trademarks of Google Inc.

Apple is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

iHeartRadio and iHeartAuto are trademarks of Clear Channel Broadcasting, Inc.

Eat the Road is a trademark of Objective App, LLC.

Parkopedia is a registered trademark of Parkopedia Limited.

Beej! is a trademark of ILS Technologies LLC.

Glympse is a registered trademark of Glympse Inc.

Maxthon is a registered trademark of Maxthon USA Inc.

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