Tokyo - Toyota is setting up a social networking service with the help of a US internet company so drivers can interact with their cars in ways similar to Twitter and Facebook.
Japanese automaker Toyota and Salesforce.com, based in San Francisco, announced their alliance on Monday to launch "Toyota Friend," a private social network for Toyota owners that works similar to tweets on Twitter.
In a demonstration at a Tokyo showroom, an owner of a plug-in Prius found out through a cellphone message from his Prius called "Pre-boy" that he should remember to recharge his car overnight.
When the owner plugged in his car to recharge it, the car replied, "The charge will be completed by 2:15. Is that OK? See you tomorrow."
Japanese automaker Toyota and Salesforce.com, based in San Francisco, announced their alliance on Monday to launch "Toyota Friend," a private social network for Toyota owners that works similar to tweets on Twitter.
In a demonstration at a Tokyo showroom, an owner of a plug-in Prius found out through a cellphone message from his Prius called "Pre-boy" that he should remember to recharge his car overnight.
When the owner plugged in his car to recharge it, the car replied, "The charge will be completed by 2:15. Is that OK? See you tomorrow."