Where do you want to go today?
Sounds like the first thing to be switched off if I were ever to buy one. A bit like the growing collection of crap I have to switch off every time I reinstall Windows.
Toyota USA has announced a bundle of new electronics for the Lexus and other Toyota models, including the ability for the company to send you voice mail based on your location and interests: no subscription required. The new package is designed to compete with GM's OnStar service, with much of the same functionality. Both …
You know, adding a simple "ON-OFF" to the feature and a short menu of topics (like "restaurants", "gas stations", "malls", "car features", etc.) would turn this from a useful but intrusive feature into a "must have". My cell phone comes with a navigation feature that lets me find "things" based on location: I find this to be the second most useful application on the phone (after voice calls, ahead of SMS).
This could be a win-win for Toyota: the revenue stream from providing product placement for advertisers could be enhanced by improved targeting (you get to charge a whole lot more for adverts that actually generate a sale than the usual AM radio kind of "spam") and you convert an (annoyed) customer into a sales force with the "Hey, Bubba, watch this!" effect.
Someday someone will figure out this simple formula to use location-based services effectively. Until then we'll have to put up with sorting one more set of voice mails each morning before we have had our coffee...
God help us if they see fit to break in over the in-car CD player with these 'service announcements' - I can see myself going back to the bicycle in *very* short order....and getting run down by someone rushing to the 50% sale on at PC World they've just heard about.
Bad idea - but be honest: you could see it coming...couldn't you?
I bought a Toyota and raised hell when they tried to get me to sign a waiver to allow them to sell my personal information to "third parties." Eventually they agreed to let that slip, but then when I tried to register to view the loan details online, one of the terms of service was that they'd be allowed to sell my online habits as well.
I shudder at the thought of the spam I'd be getting from my damn car.