I remember when ordering that there was an advertised smart phone app for monitoring charging, turning the a/c on remotely, setting charge timers and so on. After a lot of head scratching, pawing through app stores, and thumbing through the manuals I realized there's a tiny little asterisk in the brochure saying it's available in the summer of 2012. So, I hope I save someone else some time.
It works through Entune. You have to register on the website and set the options there. You can check charge status and start cooling the car remotely.
I configured mine and it works just fine. You have to have activated your (pre-paid) Safety Connect as well as registering for (also pre-paid) Entune. The Entune registration includes options to opt-in to the plug-in application functionality. You then download the Entune application to your iPhone or Android phone from your phone's app store. You do the Bluetooth pairing with your phone, and then go to the App setup on the car, which will load a bunch of stuff (I don't know if it is loading it to the car or to the phone). But then when you launch Entune on your phone, you will see the special Plug-In applications in addition to the media stuff like Pandora. You need the Safety Connect feature activated, because the Plug-In smartphone application uses the cellular modem built into the car to talk to your car. This is the way the SOS button and the theft tracking works. I just called Safety Connect and given the VIN, they found the account with all my personal info already there. They asked for a couple of additional items like a password if you call in to report a theft. Make sure that they e-mail you the completed contract, since it has the contract number you need to enable the plug-in apps in Entune.
Right, I figured out you need to register for the safety connect. The manual isn't very clear on this point. Also, on my iphone at least you need to log out and then log back in to the entune application after you vehicle comes online. It does look like some of the apps are coming later in the summer. At least the charge timer, charge and remote A/C ones are working now. OK, back to fooling with iphone and entune interactions...
In case it helps...lots more being added, but this should be a start for many of you that haven't read through this site: Prius Plug-in Advanced Model Only Best, Erica Gartsbeyn Prius Product Manager Toyota USA
Thanks Erica. Is there any chance that you could add functionality so that the charging app could email/text the user when the charge is completed (like the Chargepoint app).
Actually, the Entune Plug-In setup already allows you to get e-mail at any combination of when: 1) charging starts, 2) it ends normally, or 3) it is disconnected before charging is complete. I have verified that it works: my Blackberry beeped that I had mail within ten seconds of when I disconnected the charger. My real phone is a new Blackberry, but I had to reactivate an old Droid to get the Entune application with the plug-in apps. The plug-in apps are not supported on any Blackberry, and the media Entune apps are only supported on old Blackberries.
