Taking wi-fi hotspots to the extreme, GM has announced that certain models of their vehicles will feature Autonet, a mobile wi-fi solution built into your car and designed to provide you internet access no matter where you are. It’s only going in certain models, but you can probably get one for that old Monte Carlo if you really want to.
Installation will set you back $500, and will be installed in your new GMC, Chevy, Buick, or Cadillac, setting you back about $29 for 1 GB of service. Go over 1 GB of transfers, and you’re cut off, unless you pay for the 5 GB version. Range is limited to about 150 feet from your vehicle, which would be fine for camping, but you wouldn’t want to use it for torrenting or anything. Or you could just get a Mifi.
[via Autoblog]
Lol some people just can’t live without wi-fi.
Bill Quick has pointed out that it’s just dumb to get something installed in your car that has a high probability of becoming obsolete long before the car itself does. Besides, it doesn’t make monetary sense:
The MiFI has a LOT of limitations and the technology is not even close to as advanced … do your homework kids!
The technology that autonet uses is patented for a reason .. and is the only auto industry certified product for a reason. This technology will be what takes us all to the next level… MiFI will be obsolete in a year.
When this thing is synching with your home pc… transferring music and movies to your car.. allowing you to pay for gas without getting out of your vehicle… and also giving you a non interrupted internet connection so you can play poker online from the backseat or make a skype call with video .. it will dawn on all of us the other possibilities.
Also, $29 a month is WAY less than a cell card or a MiFI .. which your bill will be anywhere from $60 – $100 per month … depending upon lots of factors.
As for them cutting you off at 1 gig… check your facts .. I heard that because the technology they use does not drop connection .. you don’t end up paying for data that you lost… so you never actually go over a gig.. and if you do … they don’t care… because almost nobody goes over.