Toyota Corp. has received a license from Microsoft that allows the car maker to use the tech giant's technology to develop connected vehicles, according to a MarketWatch report. Giving Toyota access to the patents is part of Microsoft's strategy to get ahead of the connected vehicles game.
Microsoft has been working on trying to get car makers on board the idea of developing connected car services. The initiative with Toyota is the latest in the tech giant's plan to dominate in the area. Connected car services formed using the patents granted to Toyota may use Microsoft's Azure cloud computing service.
The two companies did not disclose how much Toyota will be paying for the patents that it secured pursuant to an intellectual property agreement with the tech giant. Under the agreement, Toyota will be able to take advantage of Microsoft Azure's capabilities, including voice recognition, predictive maintenance and navigation.
Although Toyota may be the first one to secure access to such capabilities, the agreement does not prohibit Microsoft from entering into a similar agreement with other car makers, according to an Auto News report. Erich Andersen, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Intellectual Property Group, confirmed that the tech giant will be willing to work with car makers in order to provide services to car owners.
Since the launch of Microsoft's intellectual property program in 2013, the tech giant has formed more than a thousand licensing partnerships with several entities. The tech giant is looking to expand its business to include more car makers as its licensing partner.
The partnership is not the first for Toyota and Microsoft. The two companies had been working together on connected car technology since last year. The unique thing about the recently announced partnership between the two is that it gives Toyota a wider access to Microsoft solutions.
In another auto news, Jobs & Hire previously reported that German police and officials raided offices and homes of Volkswagen AG executives.
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