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Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

bbc.com

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Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#31

Post by jonknee »

tyingq wrote: post #2

I don't get it, though. The article makes it seem like the primary use case is to connect your phones to the car via WiFi, so they can all use the car's 4g connection. But don't most people that can afford this already have unlimited (or close to it) data direct from the phone? Or is the data connection used by the car in some other way?

I agree that it is pointless. Much more useful would be the other way around (your car getting data access from your phone). But that doesn't make anyone extra money. I removed the SIM in my car as soon as the free trial ran out.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#32

Post by jonknee »

brandon272 wrote: post #24
nradov wrote: post #17

So can you just leave your car's electrical system turned on in your garage and use that to provide unlimited Internet service for the whole house when you're not driving?

Until your battery dies.

Just get a Chevy Volt and it will take quite a while!

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#33

Post by nissimk »

tyingq wrote: post #2

I don't get it, though. The article makes it seem like the primary use case is to connect your phones to the car via WiFi, so they can all use the car's 4g connection. But don't most people that can afford this already have unlimited (or close to it) data direct from the phone? Or is the data connection used by the car in some other way?

It says you can connect 10 devices to the car's AP via wifi. So all 5 passengers including the driver can have one wifi device in each hand!

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#34

Post by choward »

brandon272 wrote: post #24
nradov wrote: post #17

So can you just leave your car's electrical system turned on in your garage and use that to provide unlimited Internet service for the whole house when you're not driving?

Until your battery dies.

Just sit in your car in the garage with door closed with your laptop plugged into the charger and your car running. Disclaimer: Don't do this. You will die.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#35

Post by TYPE_FASTER »

tyingq wrote: post #2

I don't get it, though. The article makes it seem like the primary use case is to connect your phones to the car via WiFi, so they can all use the car's 4g connection. But don't most people that can afford this already have unlimited (or close to it) data direct from the phone? Or is the data connection used by the car in some other way?

I have two kids with Fire tablets who would really appreciate a connection. I think I will be switching to Verizon's new unlimited plan with some amount of hotspot access because of this.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#36

Post by sparky_ »

nradov wrote: post #15
beamatronic wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think having an always-connected car would be really useful. On certain cell phone networks, such as Verizon's in the US, you cannot make a phone call and use data at the same time. I often take calls while in the car and find that I need access to critical data at the same time. I've considered adding a hot spot semi-permanently to the car just as a work around for this issue. Also keep in mind there are passenger…

Hasn't that limitation been removed with LTE, or is Verizon still unable to do simultaneous voice and data for some other reason? The Sprint 3G network had the same problem, which is one of the reasons I dropped them.

Yes Verizon supports simultaneous voice and data. In actuality, they route all their audio connections as VOIP over the data connection (VoLTE). Which has the same effect.

Sprint still drops data connections during voice calls.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#37

Post by nradov »

in_the_sticks wrote: post #26
nradov wrote: post #17

So can you just leave your car's electrical system turned on in your garage and use that to provide unlimited Internet service for the whole house when you're not driving?

Sure. I suspect the expense of new car batteries and the inconvenience of having them run down twice a day or so might make it a less optimal choice than just buying internet service.

The picture in the article shows a Volt. If it's in your garage then it's plugged in.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#38

Post by stcredzero »

jameskilton wrote: post #8

I recently picked up a Volt which includes this OnStar 4G setup and have to say I'm extremely concerned at how quickly this "my car is on the internet" feature set is spreading. Everything is managed by OnStar through their device that's factory installed into every new Chevy vehicle. They have had security breaches and had to fix white-hat reported vulnerabilities in the past[1]. This system isn't just "4G wifi as a…

History shows that car manufacturers have not given near enough thought to the security of access to a vehicle.

Here's how GM could beat Tesla, along with why it won't happen. GM could just take a look at what Tesla is doing, and do all of the same things, then do certain key things better. From a sheer resources and capability standpoint, GM could beat the pants off of Tesla. I think Tesla is counting on: 1) GM and other big automakers being too set in their ways and 2) GM and other big automakers getting some key things very, very wrong. Security is probably a key example.

It's an oft-cited insurgency move to use the big power's culture against itself.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#39

Post by briffle »

tclancy wrote: post #18
jameskilton wrote: post #8

I recently picked up a Volt which includes this OnStar 4G setup and have to say I'm extremely concerned at how quickly this "my car is on the internet" feature set is spreading. Everything is managed by OnStar through their device that's factory installed into every new Chevy vehicle. They have had security breaches and had to fix white-hat reported vulnerabilities in the past[1]. This system isn't just "4G wifi as a…

Obligatory story: I bought a Camaro when the new ones first came out (2009). I ran into some issues with the radio, found out via forums I was 3 firmware versions behind and then slowly found out car dealers were ill-prepared to be software vendors. They had no idea about the radio updates and their system showed nothing for me against my VIN. This was a common enough experience across the country that one of the cod…

My 2015 pickup has a stereo/setup that can get Satellite radio, GPS signals for the mapping program (not activated on mine), regular radio, and a 4G LTE hotspot.

But what really, really annoys me, is I have to push buttons on the screen to update/fix the time.. How the hell does it not have NTP, or get a radio signal, etc?

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#40

Post by mti27 »

massysett wrote: post #27

Do their cars come with decent in-car entertainment that can actually use the Internet? When I got my new 2016 Honda Accord I was looking forward to some good streaming music in the car. I read that the built-in stereo comes with Pandora. I also knew that the built-in stereo can also access the Internet. "Cool," I thought. "I can fire up the hotspot on my phone, connect the car to the Internet, then the Pandora will…

Got a 2014 Honda and had the same experience, hate to hear they have not improved. It had the same Pandora and aHa radio "features" and the in-car system was terrible in general. It interrupted the music with voice prompts, and randomly wouldn't let you do certain things while the car was in motion. It's like a UX designer threw up... and then that throw up designed a car stereo.
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