Mobile software company Myriad Group said that it is “in discussions with leading companies in the automotive industry to extend Android to the connected car.” The company announced its Alien Dalvik virtual machine, intended to enable Android apps to run on devices using other platforms, during February 2011, with a version running on the fledgling MeeGo platform. By offering a version for in-car systems, “drivers and passengers will have a massive choice of high quality Android applications tailored for travelling and more, all without compromising performance.”

Myriad is not the only company pursuing support for Android apps as a way to provide customers with a larger application catalogue: RIM has announced that an Android app player will be available for its PlayBook device. Alien Dalvik and the virtual machine offered by RIM only enable support for Java-based Android apps, however: products which also include native Android code will not be able to run on devices powered by other platforms.

Myriad has not so far named any potential partners looking to use Alien Dalvik in a device, whether for a tablet or smartphone, or now in the automotive industry. Some companies have previously stated their intention to use MeeGo for in-car terminals, including LG Electronics.