Today at CES, Toyota announced a smartphone-to-car syncing app which lets drivers bark commands, figuratively speaking, to an in-car multimedia system.
Toyota Entune, like Ford's Sync Destinations app announced last week, lets a driver interface their cars with their smartphones. At launch later this year, Entune will include access to Microsoft Bing, iheartradio, Pandora, MovieTickets.com, OpenTable and other personal trackers for real-time stock and sports information. Users can also send directions to their vehicle's navigation system. But unlike Ford's syncing app, Entune uses voice recognition and in-vehicle controls so drivers can give verbal commands. Touch screen function will also be available. "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, in a statement. "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." According to a spokeswoman for Toyota, the app will be available for iOS, Android and Blackberry platforms, as well as "feature phones that have been on sale for the past 12 months." All phones require Bluetooth capacity and data plans. Toyota will equip "select models" with Entune later this year. Last week, Ford launched its Sync Destinations app for iOS and Android devices to begin with, usable in 2010 or 2011 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars only.
