Toyota says it’ll be producing the first car in the world with built-in Qi wireless charging.

The 2013 Toyota Avalon Limited will be available in the USA with a ‘Technology Package’ that also includes radar-controlled cruise control, automatic high beams and a pre-collision safety system.

Volvo Car Group and Ericsson have formed a partnership to develop internet-based ‘connected car’ services. Plans include a ‘Connected Vehicle Cloud’ based on Ericsson’s Multiservice Delivery Platform to provide in-car infotainment, apps and communication services.

For example, a driver will be able to download applications, create an on-line service booking and interact with selected commercial partners.

4.3 million home and business alarm systems will be connected to mobile phone networks in Europe by 2016, according to a new report from Berg Insight.

The research company predicts that the total number of tracking devices and wireless alarm systems monitored from a European alarm receiving centre will grow from 9.1 million last year to 39.7 million by the end of 2016.

Machine-to-machine (M2M) communication is offering mobile networks an unrivalled opportunity to dramatically increase their connection figures. At the moment, over 100 million M2M-enabled devices - from vending machines to smoke alarms - are providing information automatically, with mobile networks carrying the majority of this traffic

Jürgen Hase, Vice President of the M2M Competence Center at Deutsche Telekom and Chairman of the M2M Alliance, offers his M2M predictions for 2013.

Drivers who buy certain Chevrolet cars in the USA next year will be able to use Apple’s Siri voice-controlled assistant to activate vehicle features when driving.

The option will be available on Chevrolet Spark and Sonic models that include the Chevrolet MyLink infotainment system.