Toyota Enters Infotainment Fray with Entune Announcement
By Paul Seredynski January 4, 2011
Toyota unveiled its new Entune multimedia system today at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Toyota's Entune launch is one of several major automotive tech premiers expected at CES this year; Chrysler and Hyundai also plan to announce new entertainment platforms.
Entune will leverage an owner's mobile phone and data plan to bring a host of entertainment, navigation and information services to Toyota vehicles. The new platform is expected on select Toyota
vehicles in late 2011, before moving through the lineup in 2012. Most attractive is the lack of monthly fees, as the Entune service will be provided for three years with each new Toyota.
No specifics were given about Lexus or Scion versions, but a Toyota spokesperson coyly noted: "stay tuned."
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The Toyota Entune system will use cutting edge voice recognition software from Voice Box to allow safer interaction with mobile phones and their features, and is upgradable to prevent obsolescence as new features become available.
Toyota is touting this wireless upgrade path (versus, say, a jump drive for Ford's Sync), plus wide compatibility with smartphones as key advantages of their setup.
"Consumers have grown accustomed to having the world at their fingertips through their mobile phones," said Jon Bucci, vice president of the Advanced Technology Department at Toyota. "And unlike other industry solutions, Entune allows the driver to interact with informative and entertaining mobile content without fumbling with their phone. We offer features that our customers demand and integrate them seamlessly in the vehicle."
After downloading the Toyota Entune mobile application and pairing a data-plan enabled
Bluetooth phone with their Toyota vehicle, owners can access a variety of content and services.
These will include mobile applications (apps) tied into the car's navigation system such as Microsoft's Bing search, OpenTable for restaurant reservations, and MovieTickets.com for show times and movie passes. It will also offer customizable real time traffic, fuel prices, weather, stocks and sports.
On the music front, Toyota's is casting a wide net, providing access to iheartradio, Pandora, XM satellite radio, HD Radio, plus a USB port for your favorite MP3 player. 
Toyota claims its conversational voice recognition system will be best-in-class, better allowing drivers to focus on driving. The system will also integrate with Toyota's new Safety Connect telematics system, which provides OnStar-like safety and concierge functions including automatic collision notification and stolen vehicle/emergency/roadside assistance.
Specific Entune applications for Toyota's upcoming RAV4 EV and Plug-in Prius are expected to debut with those vehicles.
Paul Seredynski is covering the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week.
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