iHeartRadio added to Apple CarPlay

iheartradio canvasiHeartRadio is now live in the Apple CarPlay system for connected vehicles. It will also be available for consumer use in certain car models and aftermarket headunits. The app allows users to access their favorite live radio, custom stations, and talk shows from their dashboards. The integration is live with the iPhone 5.3.1 upgrade, and you can connect the smartphone to a CarPlay-enabled stereo system with a Lightning to USB cable.

Apple and Google are still locked in a land grab for control over the connected car market. Each of the companies has select carmaker partnerships settled and have their hardware appearing in new vehicles beginning this year. CarPlay debuted in March, and the system uses the Siri voice-activated personal assistant to control many of the car features. Connecting the phone to the dashboard means that the driver doesn’t need to use any of the mobile device’s touch controls while on the road.

Anna Washenko