豐田和微軟共同建立一套系統，將電動和充電式油電混合車，人與智能能源管理中心設備串聯起來。
全球最大的汽車製造商和最大的軟體製造商於4月6日宣布，雙方將採用微軟的Windows Azure雲端計算平台，努力為豐田的車載資通訊服務打造一全球性的平台。車載資通訊服務(Telematics) 為結合資訊、通訊及汽車電子技術，可滿足行車環境各項需求。
車載資通訊服務結合了車輛上的通訊和資訊技術，包括有GPS系統，能源管理和其他多媒體技術。
雲端計算透過網際網路，可提供一便捷又可擴大獲取運算資源與服務的技術。
4月6日在微軟總部雷德蒙德舉辦的新聞發佈會上，兩家公司的代表表示，計劃向豐田媒體服務公司投資10億日元。該豐田子公司專為豐田汽車客戶提供數字資料服務。
微軟執行長史蒂夫鮑爾默（Steve Ballmer）說，「2012年開始，所有購買豐田的電動或充電式油電混合車客戶，將能透過雲端技術與服務中心連接，不論人在那裏都可以安全和方便地控制和監視他們的車。例如，當客戶把他們的車接到電網時可以打開車内的冷暖氣，或在到達下一個充電站前，透過客戶的衛星定位系統機動性地監控里程數。」
「或是客戶可以使用智慧型手機，從遠端檢查電池電量或車輛維修資料。」
「當汽車連接到智能電網時，客戶可以利用這些電源管理相關的應用和服務。 想像一下，能夠讓汽車在一天當中能源需求較低，電費因此也相對便宜時充電。」
豐田總裁豐田章男（Akio Toyoda）表示：「隨著明年豐田充電式油電混合車和電動車的引進，這些汽車在全球拓展我們稱之為智能中心--即機載系統能夠更好地管理車輛整體的能源消耗、旅程記錄、和家庭用電等等的角色扮演上，將發揮莫大的作用。」
他還表示：「這套最新研發的系統將包括先進的車載資通訊服務中心，如具語音辨識能力的虛擬駕駛以及車輛充電管理，以減少對能源供應的壓力；另外也能遠端控制家中的家電、暖氣和照明。」
豐田的目標是在2015年前建立一個完整的全球性雲端平台，以提供世界各地豐田汽車的客戶，平價與先進的車載資通訊服務。
Toyota and Microsoft are partnering to build a system that links electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, people and smart center energy-management systems.
The world's largest auto manufacturer and the world's largest software manufacturer announced Wednesday that they will work together to build a global platform for Toyota's telematics services using the Windows Azure cloud computing platform.
Telematics is the combination of telecommunications and information technologies in vehicles, including GPS systems, energy management and other multimedia technologies.
Cloud computing delivers easy, scalable access to computing resources and services over the Internet.
At a news conference at Microsoft headquarters in Redmond on Wednesday, officials of the two companies said they plan to participate in a one billion yen (US$12 million) investment in Toyota Media Service Co., a TMC subsidiary that offers digital information services to Toyota automotive customers.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said, "Starting in 2012, customers who purchase one of Toyota's electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles will be able to connect via the cloud to control and monitor their car from anywhere - safely and conveniently. For example, customers will be able to turn on the heat or AC in their car while their vehicle is plugged into the grid or dynamically monitor miles until the next charging station right from their GPS system."
"Or a customer could use a smart phone to check battery power or maintenance information remotely," Ballmer said.
"Customers can use these applications and services for power management as cars connect into the smart power grid," he said. "Imagine being able to tell a car to charge at the time of day when energy demand is low and therefore, the least expensive."
Toyota President Akio Toyoda said, "with the introduction of Toyota plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles next year, our cars will play a big role in the global expansion of what we call smart centers - capable of better managing overall energy consumption of cars, driving trips and homes."
"This new system will include advanced car-telematics like virtual operators with voice recognition, management of vehicle charging to reduce stress on energy supply, and remote control of appliances, heating and lighting at home," Toyoda said.
Toyota's goal is to establish a complete global cloud platform by 2015 that will provide affordable and advanced telematics services to Toyota automotive customers around the world.
全文及圖片詳見：ENS報導
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In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
