A new survey from ABI Research looks at what consumers are interested in worldwide for their in-car technology options. The study found only an "average" interest in accessing Internet radio in the car, while a GPS function came out on top as the most-desired.

ABI's "Connected Car: Market Shares, Awareness, Service Preferences, Usage Patterns, and Willingness to Pay" survey included 1,500 respondents from around the world. The majority of respondents in all countries, save China, were "extremely" or "very" interested in connected navigation services.

The study found "only average levels of interest" among those who were not already listening to Internet radio in their cars, "even in the U.S. where most major OEMs and aftermarket vendors are heavily focusing on multimedia streaming." However, ABI found that those who are already using Internet radio in their cars "frequently" tune in.

"The clear preference for connected navigation can be explained by the familiarity of users with this service," stated Telematics and Navigation Group Director Dominique Bonte. "Clearly car OEMs need to build their infotainment platforms around navigation, especially as overall awareness levels about other connected car services remain low. On the other hand the high frequency of use of Internet radio among users suggests that car owners embrace new services once they have become familiar."