Reciprocal

Supposedly it's coming in next year on 2015 models, a GM 4G smartphone on wheels built in on all models.

http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoram...153717190.html

Welcome to the future, where we care as much about how fast a new car can download data as we do about how fast it can go. This turning point comes courtesy of General Motors, which announced today that late next year most of the cars and trucks it sells in the United States will come with AT&T 4G cellular service built in — which could be used for anything from mobile WiFi to streaming video. AT&T's chief says cars will soon be "just a big smartphone on wheels," which should set off a few alarms among distracted driving crusaders.

GM has long had cellular service built into its vehicles via OnStar, but that setup used Verizon's older 2G system — which didn't allow for voice and data calls simultaneously, and couldn't provide as much data as a typical driver's cell phone. Luxury automakers — Audi, BMW and Tesla — have already been selling models with cellular data connections for dashboard apps; Audi and Chrysler have planned mobile WiFi rollouts, allowing up to 8 passengers to surf and ride.

But those efforts pale to the scale of the shift GM described today, saying that most 2015 models sold by Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC in the United States and Canada would come with a 4G LTE AT&T receiver, which should provide about 10 times faster data than a 3G receiver. "Should" being a key term, because as anyone who's ever had a cellphone knows, data service remains hit-or-miss in many areas, from rural roads to cities where the airwaves grow overloaded for several hours a day. (AT&T vowed it would be ready for the extra business.)

Aside from pitching gadgets like mobile WiFi or video, the step also lets GM save costs by handling vehiclular software updates over the air rather than requiring owners to drop into dealerships. But the move will also raise questions among safety advocates who claim data distractions are causing a greater share of accidents; the National Transportation Safety Board has even called for an all-out ban on cellphones and data use while driving.

GM emphasized the potential safety benefits of more connected vehicles, and automakers contend having the car act as the data center for navigation, phone and messages is far safer than drivers steering with one hand while thumb-typing on their iPhones in another. But with the advent of WiFi hotspots on wheels in mainstream vehicles, the question may turn out to be not whether gadgets distract us too much from driving, but how driving distracts us from staying online, all the time.

Zymurgy

No.

Wildmanht

not at all. I can careless about it. My AT&T cell phone and coverage already sucks so cant see using this.

Axial

Dear GM,

I'll be ditching AT&T service soon, actually. It is overpriced, over-limited, and underdeveloped garbage. I also like my cars to be unconnected, thank you very much.

Sincerely,
A young whippersnapper.

michaelinmech

Will you wait for AT&T 4G Service on C7?




Only if the little chrome Stringrays will have 4G engraved in them

LT1_E85_Corvette

my phone already has wifi.. why cant the car just sync up with my phone via USB or Bluetooth? Well now that i think about it.. it should right? Hell the C7 comes with Pandora

I Just left ATT for Verizon anyways... ATT is a F**King joke....

Process Black

With the phone connectivity currently available with MyLink 2.0, I don't see why a built-in service is necessary. Just pull the data via the connected phone/device.

rcallen484

How do you decide which IP address/persona to use on which thread?

EvanZR1

Why the heck would I want cell service in my car?!? I would much prefer for my car to use the cell service on the phone I already have! For that matter, I really wish they would drop navigation in the head unit, and have it mirror the Google Maps navigation my phone already has.

Joe aka - KODAK

AT&T has the worst customer service of any phone company and they are third worst of every company in the country! They truely suck! I don't use the current GM service so surely won't use AT&T

Reciprocal

PM sent.

slief

Is that you??? I only ask because I am a die hard fisherman!

Oh, and to answer the OP's question. Absolutely not. I would not pay for vehicle specific cel service. Especially when I already have a smart phone and a dumb phone that will both work just fine with the C7.

Daekwan06

No.

Well maybe. Only because I'd want a 2015 (2nd year) model anyways.

Even still AT&T's 3G network is pretty damn fast for cellular use. They support HSPA+ which means speeds of up to 14.4mb down.. which is as fast as the average cable modem download speed in the US. AT&T's 4G/LTE network does up the ante with as much as 50mb/down in some areas.. but what do you really need all that speed for in a vehicle?

Anybody doing anything that high tech, that requires that much speed. Surely already has a 4G/LTE equipped smartphone in their pocket. And already has access to those speeds.

indyjack18

Nope. I would pay extra for no service....wait a minute, I don't have to, I already have AT&T.

Michael A

Based on AT&T's data plans, I'm sure the service would cost at least $14.99 per month for 250M, and $30 for 3G. I have a Galaxy Note II, and it does everything I can think of, is updated frequently, and has a nice big screen. It even shows me a picture of my destination. Unless, I could link the car and phone to the same data plan, so the monthly charges don't go up, the value add would not be enough for me.

Michael

Mdm23

There's some serious AT&T hating going on in the thread. They've been good to me.

Gary '09 C6

I don't use the bluetooth that's in my car now...couldn't care less.

SCM_Crash

Why don't they just setup a WiFi bridge so you can connect your car to an access point? Doesn't that make more sense since more and more people have phones that tether?


BTW, I'll NEVER purchase another AT&T service.

MikeyTX

Actually ................... Aren't all of the wireless carriers in this country ?

MikeyTX

This !