Salesforce, Toyota to build social network for cars

TOKYO, JAPAN: Cloud computing company Salesforce.com and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) will build 'Toyota Friend', a private social network for Toyota cars.

Toyota Friend will be a private social network that connects Toyota customers to their car, dealership, and Toyota.

It will be powered by Salesforce Chatter, a private social network, and will be offered, first in Japan, initially with Toyota's electric vehicles (EV) and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHV) due in 2012.

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Toyota Friend will be capable of sending out updates, "tweet"-like alerts as well as essential maintenance tips for car owners.

It can access public social networks such as Twitter and Facebook and will be accessible through smart phones, tablet PCs, etc.

TMC President Akio Toyoda said: "Toyota and salesforce.com share a vision to take the auto industry into the future. Social and mobile technologies will transform the car ownership experience, and we are excited to be Toyota's partner in this transformation."

"Social networking services are transforming human interaction and modes of communication. The automobile needs to evolve in step with that transformation. I am always calling for Toyota to make ever-better cars. The alliance that we announce today is an important step forward in achieving that goal."