In the auto industry's biggest move yet towards connected cars, General Motors plans to install wireless 4G data modems on millions of its future vehicles, enabling them to serve as Internet hotspots.
The plan, announced at last week's 2013 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, calls for the giant automaker to embed 4G LTE technology in vehicles across all its brands, starting with Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC in North America, and Opel/Vauxhall in Europe. The hotspot technology could bring new levels of connectivity to many of the six million vehicles GM builds each year -- some as soon as next year.
"You'll be able to get in the back seat with your iPad, go to your hotspot, and do anything that you could do on any other hotspot," Greg Ross, director of business development for GM's Connected Consumer Group, told Design News. "You could do voice calls or you could surf the Internet and watch Netflix in the backseat."
Although technical details are still scarce, GM said last week that it's teaming with AT&T Inc. to equip most of its 2015 models with 4G LTE broadband, a global standard for high-speed data communication in mobile phones. In GM's implementation, the vehicles would incorporate only the data modem, and not the display, battery, or other parts of a 4G phone. Since most vehicles are now sold with seven- or eight-inch displays in the center console, the 4G modem would work in conjunction with those displays.
"Let me be clear about one thing," GM vice chairman Steve Girsky said in a prepared statement at the Mobile World Congress. "The technology will be built in, not brought in. And it won't be phone dependent, either. It doesn't matter what type of smartphone you have."
GM stressed that front seat occupants won't have access to Internet-based video or browsing capabilities, but will still get the advantages of Internet-based navigation, remote vehicle diagnostics, and other features. In the front seat, all applications will have to be non-distracting and appropriate for use by drivers, the automaker said. "You'll have a pipe into the Internet, but I don't foresee the car turning into a laptop on wheels," Thilo Koslowski, vice president and distinguished analyst for Gartner Group, told Design News. "I call it Internet snacking, rather than Internet browsing."
GM foresees the technology as a high-tech extension of its existing OnStar telematics system, which has been offered in GM vehicles for 17 years. As is the case with OnStar's current system, the technology will allow vehicles to be reached when no one is inside, thus enabling remote starts and door-unlock services, as well as airbag deployment detection.
Koslowski added that the embedded technology offers advantages over use of handheld personal phones in the vehicle, since the modules will be able to employ the vehicle's existing antennas and power.
To be sure, GM's move to Internet connectivity isn't the auto industry's first such effort. BMW and Audi have announced similar plans, but not for the production volumes involved in the GM deal.
Some industry observers expressed concerns to Design News about the use of 4G hardware in vehicles that might be on the streets for a decade or more. Because vehicle manufacturers typically work in three- and four-year development cycles, while electronics makers crank out new products in months, analysts fear that older vehicles might eventually end up using outdated technology.
Still, See said GM's announcement will be greeted positively by many consumers who are hungry for more electronics in the vehicle. "People are demanding to be connected," he said. "This announcement is a clear play toward that."
Hmm, this is interesting, Chuck, but I'm not entirely sure how much it really extends existing technology. How exactly are they a hotspot if you can't surf the Internet? Maybe I just didn't read the article correctly! And I have an older car (well, a VW van, actually) so I don't know exactly what's available via OnStar. Please enlighten me (and have patience with my car luddite-ness). Thanks!
Liz, they'll offer full Internet access, but not in the front seat. Full Internet access -- doing a Google search or watching a streaming movie on Netflix -- will be reserved for the back seat. As far as OnStar goes, this is a step up from 2G (voice transmission and slow data services) to 4G (mobile ultra-broadband Internet access).
Ah, now I understand. That's for the best, considering how distracting that could be! Good idea. So now I think this Internet snacking is much more filling...more like a meal. ;) Definitely sounds like an improvement over OnStar and something that brings us to the promise of WiFi anywhere. Thanks for the clarification and coverage! I guess I just did not read it clearly enough.
Chuck, this is an interesting development. Does it mean that, while I am in a parking lot I can sit there and surf the web. Wow! I also wonder how they will stop a front seat passenger with a tablet from using the hot spot feature.
As for obsolesence, remember that the cell phone network, on which this feature depends, is very good at supporting older devices even as new devices come out. WiFi is this way as well. If you will notice, most WiFi routers support all the older modulation schemes as well as the latest. There are ocassionally transitions, such as from analog to digital, but these are rare. Also, if the car companies are consumer friendly, they could make both the hardware and the software upgradable.
A good point was made by naperlou about cell service continuing to support older technology. Does that mean that the Hotspot is cell based or satellite? Can I replace my present 4G LTE broadband service by simply tapping into the hotspot from my house while the car is parked in front of it?
With my present broadband service I can do the same as the hotspot, but I'll make the assumption the hotspot will amplify the signal enough to work anywhere. In some remote areas I don't get a signal in the car.
If GM will be able to do this I believe that they will be the pioneers to have the 4G on a vehicle. Because at the moment as I know (Correct me if I am wrong) only Mercedes Benz have the on car hotspot. That is also coming as an optional feature not as a standard option.
Any way that is the market that manufacture should address in the future.
And the other point is all the niche car manufactures now look at to add more features to the back seat passengers why because the customer use that kind of vehicles most probably have a drivers for them self.
Last year December I had a chance to participate some online research done by the Chrysler about these features. They are planning to have more options for the rear seat passengers for their future vehicles. USB Connection, Audio controls, reading lights, 12V power socket, cubby hole are the futures that they lock at.
I don't see why this would be such a desirable option. My kids can already get all the internet access they want thanks to their smartphones. Why would I pay extra so that they can have internet access on a screen attached to the back of a seat?
As the article mentions, the hardware will probably be outdated by the time the car makes it to the dealer's lot, never mind after you've owned the car for a year. My kids can upgrade their smartphones every year or so. Is GM going to offer free hardware upgrades every year?
Then again, I don't even like automatic windows or door locks. The only option I want in a car is air conditioning. I am not impressed when auto manufacturers try to pump up the sale price of a vehicle by adding a bunch of options that don't add any real value.
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