Toyota is pushing ahead with its strategy of developing in-car connectivity and telematics services. The carmaker has announced plans to provide a private social network for Toyota drivers. The Toyota Friend network will be offered initially in Japan from 2012 to drivers of electric and plug-in hybrid cars. There are plans within Toyota to expand the offering to global markets and additional vehicle models.
The social network will provide product and service information, maintenance tips and alerts if the vehicle battery needs recharging. In addition, Toyota Friend will allow customers to communicate with other Toyota drivers and also with friends and family through links with Facebook and Twitter.
The service will be available through smartphones and tablet PCs. “The arrival of Toyota Friend following on from the Entune infotainment system indicates that Toyota is serious about joining the world of the Connected Car,” says Abhishek Visveswaran, ITS and telematics specialist at SBD. “The new Toyota Friend online portal is a great example of the increasing the importance of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) to vehicle manufacturers,“ says Visveswaran. “Carmakers are using services accessed through portable devices to strengthen the bond with their customers and increase brand loyalty.” The latest trends and strategies in the use of portable devices in vehicles are analysed in SBD’s new report, The complete guide to integrating smartphone apps in the car.
Salesforce.com, a US-based enterprise cloud computing company, has developed the Toyota Friend social network for Toyota. Earlier this year, Microsoft and Toyota announced a strategic partnership to build next generation telematics services based on the Windows Azure platform. The Toyota Friend service uses Azure to link the vehicle with the Salesforce.com social network engine. Both Salesforce.com and Microsoft have invested in Toyota’s Media Service division that is responsible for global cloud platform development.
To learn more the latest developments in vehicle infotainment or to buy the report The complete guide to integrating smartphone apps in the car please contact Kavitha Kuppuswamy at kkuppuswamy@sbd.co.uk
