You don't need a crystal ball to predict that two things are certain in the future: Computing will move to the "cloud" and more people will be moving around in electric vehicles. That's why two of the biggest companies in computing and automotive -- Microsoft and Toyota -- today announced a strategic partnership to develop a global cloud-based telematics system that, in part, is aimed at achieving a low-carbon society through efficient energy use."
The new telematics system will be based on Microsoft's moon-shot Azure cloud-computing platform. In addition to energy management, the system will also include GPS and multlimedia capabilities. But now that Microsoft has a firm foothold in auto infotainment with the popular Ford Sync system, the company is moving into the growing EV energy-management area of the auto industry.
A little over a year ago, Microsoft joined forces with Ford to help EV drivers manage electricity usage via MS's Hohm software. With the Microsoft/Toyota partnership, the two companies will move such services from the PC to the cloud, most likely using mobile apps.
The joint effort will be funneled into a $12 million investment via Toyota Media Service Company, which provides digital information services to Toyota automotive customers. The goal is to develop and deploy Windows Azure telematics applications starting with Toyota electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2012, with a complete global cloud-based telematics platform by 2015.
Toyota is conducting trials in Japan of its Smart Center pilot program that connects "people, automobiles and homes for integrated control of energy consumption." And the automaker and Microsoft are betting that as EVs and plug-in hybrids become the norm, cloud-based telematics systems will increasingly manage their attendant energy-efficiency issues. And hypermilers will then hit hyperspace.
UPDATE: No big reveals at the Microsoft/Toyota web press conference at 1 PM PDT today. It was mainly a chance for Toyota president Akio Toyoda and Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer to expound a slight bit on the press info released earlier today. But the two execs and questions from "audience" did unearth the following nuggets:
- The Microsoft Toyota cloud-computing partnership will allow the companies to quickly roll out associated services to the 170 countries that Toyota operates in, although the U.S. and Japanese markets will be the first to see it reach fruition.
- Initial apps will relate to remote charging, heating and cooling a vehicle using the power grid and similar features that other automakers have already shown, but the new platform will open up other opportunities, according to Ballmer.
- Asked about the differences between Ford Sync and this new partnership, Ballmer said Sync is "in the car" whereas what his company is doing with Toyota is a "back-end platform."
- Asked how the new platform with influence Toyota's Sync-like Entune infotainment system, Toyoda replied that it will allow offering "much broader apps."
- On what the cloud-computing aspect of the platform brings to the table that's different from anything we've seen before, Ballmer said speed, agility and "friendliness." He also noted how it accelerates scalability of previous vehicle technology and more rapid application development and deployment.
- And although the platform is focused on EVs and plug-in hybrids, Toyoda said it can be used around the world to make cars more attractive and appealing.
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