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The recent telematics update, based on an online pool of more than 500 automotive and app executives across North America, reveals that “complexities of cross-platform development” are the root cause of issues in the development of in-vehicle apps.

In an online debate, a live audience of industry executives was asked to cast to their votes on barriers for in-vehicle apps. Options covered everything from “driving distraction legislation” to “automotive and consumer electronic product lifecycle differences.”

However, it was “complexities of development” that drew the majority, with 41 percent of voters.

In the past few months, though, some of the A-class automakers like Mercedes Benz, BMW and Ford have been introducing in-car app offerings, but this market has still not reached its full potential.

Speaking about the results of online pool, Zach Brand, senior product manager at NPR (News - Alert), agreed with the majority, “but it wasn’t a problem that couldn’t be overcome with dedicated resources and added knowledge.” He went on to explain that it is the difference in product lifecycles that presents more of a challenge, and “to work with OEMs directly, it is completely at the mercy of their ability to move forward … For them this is real problem right now.”

NPR has launched an in-vehicle app and will be discussing this topic at the Content and Apps for Automotive USA Conference December 4-5 in San Diego – a conference that will address the roadblocks for integrating apps into the common vehicle.

Representatives of many prominent companies like Facebook, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Airbiquity, UIE Evolution, Tweddle Group, Ericsson (News - Alert), TuneIn, Toyota and Honda will discuss the growing potential of the car as the next mobile platform for apps.

Industry reps in automobiles, app development, platforms and wireless technology will discuss how vehicle-centric apps can be used to create compelling auto-focused offerings, and transform CRM.