As General Motors prepares to integrate 4G LTE wireless connectivity into most of its cars starting in 2014, the automaker’s chief executive Dan Akerson has had a go in a vehicle equipped with the high-speed wireless connectivity and was “blown away“.
A 4G LTE connection is about 10 times faster than a 3G connection currently used by most smartphone users in North America. But as consumers have grown accustomed to being able to access the web from almost everywhere, automakers have yet to integrate the connectivity into their vehicles. Akerson, a former telecom executive, believes the integration of 4G LTE connection into The General’s vehicles will result in higher consideration of Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC vehicles among car buyers.
To note, the 4G LTE connection will turn the car into a mobile hot-spot, allowing users to connect their smartphone, iPad or other mobile device to the secure Wi-Fi network. In addition, live traffic reports and other applications that use data, such as Google Earth, could be used on the cars’ infotainment systems.
“It’s stunning what we are able to do when it rolls out,” Akerson said. “There’s a raft of things you could do that are faster, more content-rich.”
GM has partnered with AT&T to offer the 4G LTE connection throughout most of its 2015 models starting in mid-2014. The service will be available either through GM’s OnStar system, or through AT&T by adding a device (a vehicle) to a customer’s mobility plan.
Comments
What’s the cost of this? Seems like it would be much cheaper and useful to just tether your phone with the car to provide data. Can easily be started and stop with NFC chips.
What about Canada?
While all of this stuff is fine and dandy, these types of enhancements strike me as gimmicks that shouldn’t be in the cockpit of a vehicle. There’s enough distraction going on for a driver as it is..