You may have encountered the name MirrorLink in some of our articles and reviews, usually when we start discussing tech and infotainment systems. But what is it exactly and why is it being touted as a feature in some cars?
Related: What is Apple CarPlay? How does it work?
Driving while using your phone is not only illegal, it's extremely dangerous too. Your attention is diverted away from driving and your gaze is not on the road. Some will argue the point but there is no instance where using your phone while you drive improves your awareness or relations. There's an overwhelming increase in the number of mobile phone related accidents, sadly many involving pedestrians. This has led several firms to come together to form the Car Connectivity Consortium, an NPO that is working tirelessly to eliminate the risks. This is where functions like MirrorLink come into play.
What is MirrorLink?
Much like Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto, MirrorLink is a system that is designed to connect your phone to the infotainment system and allow you to access apps that are safe to use while driving. MirrorLink will display certain apps and features that are installed on your cell phone on the infotainment screen, allowing you to make calls, access your contacts list, use certain navigation apps installed on your phone and more. It can even read out your messages and naturally, host your playlists or stream music for you.
While not as comprehensive as Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, MirrorLink caters for many Android devices that are not Android Auto compatible. However, it will not work on Apple iOS or other systems such as Windows Mobile or BlackBerry.
How does MirrorLink work?
MirrorLink comes into play when a mobile device with MirrorLink installed is connected to an infotainment system that supports MirrorLink via a USB cable. Depending on the device, it will connect automatically or you will need to prompt the connection. From there the approved, installed apps will be displayed in large, easy-to-access icons.
Should your infotainment system not support MirrorLink, you will have to rely on a BlueTooth connection only for your calls and audio streaming.
