Coming soon to a Lexus near you...

[Lucki]

Spam!

"Lexus has announced plans to send targeted messages to buyers of its cars based on the buyer's zip code and vehicle type. Unlike regular spam, these messages will be delivered directly to the buyer's vehicle, and will play to the vehicle's occupants as audio. Lexus has promised to make the messages relevant to the car buyers."

http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/01/08/2038216

 

[Sneakypants]

That link is funny. It's gets no support whatsoever...Nor does it deserve any. That's a pretty piss poor contribution to the auto-making industry.

They'll probably have a pre-checked box that you'd like to receive the spam buried in your contract like lots of websites like to do when you register. Then you automatically receive the spam unless your detective work was sharp enough to catch the option to begin with. Should be a law that forces that situation to happen exactly opposite, but there's also more fucked up things in the world.

Opt-out.

 

[Darklion]

What happens if you choose to install your own Radio?

 

[Princemercury]

If you people actually read the damn article instead of jumping on the spam bandwagon from amateur IT writers, you'll see it's nothing like what you guys or that 3rd party link is implying.

Here:

Called Lexus Insider, the service will let Lexus send audio messages to participating owners on whatever subject it chooses, from tips on making the best use of the vehicles' features to suggestions for a scenic drive.
Toyota officials promise to be discerning and restrained.
"We're not going to barrage customers with marketing messages," vows Jon Bucci, vice president of Toyota's U.S. advanced technology unit.

Yeah, that's so much spam. lolslashdot.

 

[Sneakypants]

I'd bet my IS 300 that my definition of barrage differs from Jon Bucci's when it concerns marketing messages. Regardless that it's not as terrible a technology as that biased crowd feels at, it's still something I'd personally opt out of versus paying for. To me, this isn't a service, it's an annoyance. Perhaps a hinderance.

If you really need suggestions for a scenic drive, there are other ways to getthat information. And planning in advance is the better option for sure. Who is going to be out driving, already going about their day and keeping busy, and decide to suddenly take the car's suggestion for a scenic drive? Most people have places to go and people to see, and they don't leave half an hour early just in case the car has a suggestion for them. Most people wouldn't make time for that. It's largely unrealistic.

I'm sure there will be people that enjoy it, but as I said before, there are better ways to go about obtaining information...In regards to exactly what you're interested in and when you are intersted in hearing it. This also allows you to plan your day to include time for these types of things rather than already being en route to a destination without the time to stop and enjoy the non-barrage of messages.