Toyota will adopt the HERE platform from Nokia in 2014

The Japanese brand has reached an agreement with the Finnish mobile phone manufacturer to take advantage of its HERE multimedia platform. Toyota intends to equip its models with it starting in the first months of next year, according to the head of its computer division, Derek Williams. It will reach the European, Russian and Middle Eastern markets simultaneously. In this way it fills a gap that had only been resolved in America.

The HERE platform will control all the information and entertainment systems of Toyota’s models. The announcement of the agreement does not reveal details about this part, but it will incorporate an exclusive function of this Nokia invention. It is the Local Search for Automotive technology, something like a navigator but with a unique and modern approach.

The Finnish company’s experience in navigation systems has gone into this application. With it, occupants can access high-quality online cartography that not only contains up-to-date maps but also high-resolution images of the areas shown or even ratings from other users of nearby businesses and points of interest.

HERE was launched last November as an alternative to Apple’s latest controversial version of its navigator and already holds a great deal of cartographic information for 200 countries. It will also serve as the basis for developing more navigation-related functions, for which Nokia will count on the help of Toyota’s engineers. For example, it will be possible to create custom routes, save them and then share them online.

Via | Autoblog.it