NEW YORK - (Business Wire) The ng Connect Program today announced that the Toyota Prius, the world’s most popular hybrid vehicle, serves as the platform for the program’s first LTE Connected Car. This revolutionary concept vehicle illustrates how 4G/LTE mobile access technology and the resulting ultra high bandwidth connectivity can potentially bring a wide range of new capabilities to the automobile in years to come. Next-generation 4G/LTE networks are being deployed today and are anticipated to become commercially available in 2010. Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) USA, Inc., an ng Connect Program member, participated with Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE: ALU), Atlantic Records, QNX Software Systems, chumby and Kabillion to customize the popular hybrid vehicle with state-of-the-art services. In the LTE Connected Car concept, the 2010 Toyota Prius transforms into a mobile platform where information can be easily accessed and transmitted through the use of high-bandwidth connectivity, cloud-based interactive applications and the next generation of innovative in-car computing platforms. With integrated in-vehicle systems, combining LTE hardware and advanced software for a next-generation in-vehicle experience, the LTE Connected Car provides a glimpse of the technological possibilities for future automobiles.
“The Prius is the perfect choice for our first LTE-enabled vehicle,” said Derek Kuhn, Vice President, Emerging Technology and Media Group, Alcatel-Lucent and ng Connect Program co-founder. “Recognized worldwide for its innovative design and hybrid capabilities, which support the technology leadership reflected in the LTE Connected Car, it is the ideal vehicle for this visionary project.”
The ng Connect Program’s LTE Connected Car concept vehicle offers a comprehensive menu of entertainment, infotainment and security services including video-on-demand, gaming, home control, advanced GPS navigation, as well as roadway and vehicle monitoring. Additionally, the Connected Car offers an in-car WiFi network supporting full utilization of all WiFi-enabled devices in the vehicle as well as connectivity to the cloud via LTE.
“When managing and working toward Toyota’s long-term technology vision, our eye is always first and foremost on what we hear our customers desire in their vehicle,” said Jon Bucci, Vice President, Advanced Technology Department, Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA, Inc. “With our current offerings in the market, we aim to deliver what our drivers want today. With the Connected Car concept, we are excited to help bring to life the vision of the next-generation automobile.”
TMS’ work with the ng Connect Program complements the company’s initiatives in the area of automotive telematics and technology, including the recent launch of Lexus and Toyota’s all-new services, Lexus Enform™ and Safety Connect™.
The LTE Connected Car was recently revealed during an ng Connect Program Technology Showcase in New York City on November 3, 2009. For more information about this concept vehicle and its next-generation features, and to view an interactive demonstration of the in-concept experience, visit: http://www.ngconnect.org/lteconnectedcar.
About Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc. is the marketing, sales, distribution and customer service arm of Toyota, Lexus and Scion. Established in 1957, TMS markets products and services through a network of more than 1,400 Toyota, Lexus and Scion dealers. Toyota directly employs nearly 34,000 people in the U.S. and sold more than 2.2 million vehicles in 2008.
For more information about Lexus Enform and Safety Connect visit: www.Lexus.com/Enform, and www.Toyota.com/SafetyConnect.
About The ng Connect Program
The ng Connect Program is a multi-industry organization committed to the development and rapid deployment of the next generation of broadband services based on Long Term Evolution (LTE) and other ultra high bandwidth technologies. Founded in 2009, the ng Connect Program is supported by leading network, consumer electronics, application and content providers including 4DK, Alcatel-Lucent, Atlantic Records, BUZZMEDIA, chumby, Connect2Media, Creative Technology Ltd., dimedis, FISHLABS, GameStreamer, Inc., Gemalto, HP, Intamac Systems Ltd., Kabillion, Kyocera Communications Inc., LearningMate, MediaTile, QNX, R360, RebelVox LLC., Samsung, SIGNEXX, Total Immersion, Toyota Motor Sales, TuneWiki, V-Gate and Words & Numbers. For more information on the ng Connect Program, please visit: www.ngconnect.org.
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ng Connect
Pamela Preston, +1-212-616-6001
ppreston@breakawaycom.com
or
Alicia Mickelsen, +1-212-616-6002
amick@breakawaycom.com
or
Toyota Motor Sales USA, Inc.
Audra Ruzich, 310-468-5972
Advanced Technology Department
audra_ruzich@toyota.com
