Toyota and Microsoft have long teamed up in 2011 in a bid to enhance car features. But now, the automaker and the tech company have revved up their deal by launching a five-year partnership called "Toyota Connected." It promises to make dads and car owners' lives easier in a hi-tech environment with its new internet vehicles.
Toyota announced the launch of Toyota Connected in a press release and named Microsoft as its supporting data science hub. Upcoming Toyota cars will be incorporated to the cloud computing platform Microsoft Azure, which should help "make driving more personal, more intuitive and safer," per Microsoft.
What does Toyota Connected deliver?
"From telematics services that learn from your habits and preferences, to use-based insurance pricing models that respond to actual driving patterns, to connected vehicle networks that can share road condition and traffic information, our goal is to deliver services that make lives easier," Toyota CEO Zack Hicks described the service in the press release. Engineers from both companies will be working together in a new facility to establish and deliver Toyota Connected to its customers.
Toyota Connected to deliver better driving experience
The idea behind Toyota Connected is to make cars more intelligent and interactive. But there's also a push to make the vehicles user-friendly with few distractions despite its technological enhancements. The bottom line is that car owners must be able to have a better and enjoyable driving experience with their Toyota.
"I think people are really tired of fumbling with multiple devices and having this disjointed experience," said Hicks, via Mercury News. But it's not just individual drivers who will benefit from this service and feature. Even business owners, such as those who run car fleets, could take full advantage of Toyota Connected.
When should car owners see Toyota Connected?
Fortune reports that Toyota and Microsoft have not yet revealed when consumers will get to see the enhancements and innovations from Toyota Connected. However, it's the North American consumers who will get first dibs on the internet vehicles before the service rolls out in other regions. PC Mag reports that Toyota Connected will still uphold user privacy standards even as the vehicles will be internet-ready.
Learn more about Toyota Connected in this video below:
