Toyota To Market KDDI Driver Friendly Telephones

TOKYO, Aug 30, 2006; Reuters reported that Toyota Motor Corp. said on Wednesday it has developed a mobile phone with KDDI Corp. that will make it easier for drivers in Japan to use its car navigation and other services.

The phone, called "TiMO", will go on sale at the end of October and will be sold only at the automaker's 7,500 outlets in Japan, the companies said in a statement.

Toyota has been working closely with KDDI, in which the auto maker has an 11 percent stake, to develop new services that link cars and telecom networks.

The new handset will be compatible with Toyota's car navigation system using Bluetooth, a wireless technology.

The companies have also developed a phone battery charger that can be attached to the driver's armrest and will offer downloads of music and games free to TiMO users.

Drivers will also be able to connect to emergency centres by just pushing a button on the handset if they need help while on the road.

KDDI, Japan's No.2 wireless carrier after NTT DoCoMo Inc., is keen to introduce new services before Oct. 24, when mobile phone users will be able to keep their phone numbers when they change operators.

KDDI was formed in 2000 after a merger of three operators including a mobile phone unit backed by Toyota. Toyota is now KDDI's second-biggest shareholder after Kyocera Corp..

The new model is based on an existing KDDI phone made by Toshiba Corp.