Smart
car information and communication technology for Toyota vehicles will
be developed by Microsoft Corp. under a new $12 million contract signed
by the two companies on Wednesday.
Telematics,
features that include GPS, telecommunications and multimedia, will be
developed and installed by Microsoft and Toyota engineers in future car
models.
The new smart car system will compete with leading telematics provider OnStar where General Motors holds a majority stake.
But Microsoft and Toyota plans to have a
novel feature involving hybrid electric cars which will allow plug-in
vehicles to communicate with one another and to an electric grid. They
will charge themselves in the most cost-efficient alignment. SMART CAR |