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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

#41

Post by oculusthrift »

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 think that's a flawed assumption. many don't have close to an unlimited data plan. it would be great to drive while one's kids can play on their ipad in the back. (with the wifi)

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#42

Post by mti27 »

jandrese wrote: post #9

I have to wonder how useful this unlimited data plan will be in 10-15 years when you're still driving the vehicle. What are the chances Chevy is going to even have an option to upgrade the radio when the one built into the car is obsolete?

Definitely feels like you're getting locked in. Sort of like buying a combo stereo unit with radio/phono/8 track in to one box instead of buying separate components that could be swapped out.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#43

Post by mapmeld »

briffle wrote: post #39
tclancy wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

Especially since the GPS signal has the time in it... likely it is to avoid issues with people claiming it is running fast/slow, or changing timezones.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#44

Post by lotharbot »

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 a prepaid phone, because I don't want to spend $hundreds/month on an unlimited data plan that I'm only rarely going to use.

But $20/month for unlimited data in my car? That would be worth it just for the 3-4 road trips I take each year. My kid could sit in the back watching numberphile videos the whole time? Yes plz.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#45

Post by shliachtx »

jonknee wrote: post #31
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.

See T-Mobile SyncUp

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#46

Post by empath75 »

stcredzero wrote: post #38
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…

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

#47

Post by lotharbot »

nradov wrote: post #37
in_the_sticks wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

even a Volt that's not plugged in is going to be able to run its electronics for a long, long time on a single charge.

Wifi routers consume on average about 6 watts. The new Volt has an 18.4 kWh battery, which could run such a wifi router for about 4 months. Or, put another way, running a wifi router all day would use about 0.005% of the Volt's battery capacity.

Obviously a lot of other support systems would be powered on as well, but still, the point is, you're not really going to notice the battery drain from a little wifi transmitter relative to the battery capacity needed to move a 3500 lb automobile 50+ miles.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#48

Post by empath75 »

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?

Most people in the US do not have unlimited 4G. I went on a cross country trip recently and used my entire dataplan in 10 days.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#49

Post by jonknee »

shliachtx wrote: post #45
jonknee wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

See T-Mobile SyncUp

I don't need a hotspot for my car, I have my phone already.

Re: Chevrolet to offer unlimited data plan with cars

#50

Post by js2 »

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…

Also a new Volt owner, and I plan to detach the antenna from the OnStar unit in mine. You can't disable it entirely or the car gets angry.
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