Vinli Provides Ability To Make Old Cars Smart

For consumers who wish they could have built-in Wi-Fi, infotainment systems, theft detection, and other features that come in new vehicles without spending a lot of money for a brand new car, Vinli has created a product to help.

Vinli is a mobile hot spot that plugs into a car, thereby equipping it with all of the smart features that many consumers want in their vehicle. Vinli plugs into the data port under a car’s dash and requires no other mounts or screws. Because it’s designed to work via the OBD II port, Vinli should work with any car or truck that was manufactured after 1996. Featuring 2.4 Ghz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Smart, Vinli can provide old cars with a connection to the Internet via a 4G LTE subscription.

Most experts in the auto industry agree that connected cars are the way of the future. According to Business Insider, the market for connected cars has experienced a compound annual growth rate of 45 percent over the last five years, which overshadows the overall car market 10 times over.

“By 2020…75 percent of cars shipped globally will be built with the necessary hardware to allow people to stream music, look up movie times, be alerted of traffic and weather conditions, and even power driving-assistance systems such as self-parking,” says Business Insider’s John Greenough.

There’s no question that connected cars offer a world of benefits. A connected car can update the vehicle’s software automatically, it can provide early warning signs of potential mechanical issues, it can help law enforcement find a stolen vehicle, and much more. However, according to Greenough, the problem is that they cost an “average selling price of $55,000,” which is not affordable to most people. At the low price of only $99, Vinli is intended to provide a way for the masses to upgrade to a connected car.

“We believe Vinli will change how people interact with their cars on a day-to-day basis by making cars smarter, safer and more enjoyable,” said Vinli CEO Mark Haidar in a statement. “We are honored to be partnering with one of the world’s largest consumer electronics companies, Samsung; one of the largest auto suppliers, Continental; one of the largest car ownership companies, Cox Automotive; and one of Tesla’s early investors, The Westly Group. This diverse group of auto and technology industry leaders believe in our vision and will help us accelerate and shape the future of the connected car.”

The device looks similar to a USB stick, and it plugs directly into the data port under a car’s dashboard. The user can subsequently connect to the device with their smartphone. The company says that installation is “as easy as plugging a USB drive into your computer.” Once connected, the user can choose from a growing selection of apps from Vinli, including an app that lets parents track their teen driver’s safe-driving habits, one that helps the driver find a parking spot, an interesting app that gives users store discounts and other rewards simply for not touching their phone, and others. Additionally, Vinli offers separate data connections to turn the car into a Wi-Fi hot spot. Under the hood, it features a 3-axis accelerometer for collision detection, GPS for location tracking, and SMS for emergencies. The system runs on Linux, and developers can sign up to gain access to the open developer portal to create their own apps.

Vinli has its own app store where users can download apps for the Web, Android, or iOS, and can connect to programs such as Dash, which provides standard map and directions functionality along with the ability to help find the cheapest gas.

“Vinli is focused on bringing the most personalized, best driving experience possible to modern drivers, one that enables smooth connectivity to their favorite apps,” said Luis Arbulu, Director of Strategic Investments at Samsung Global Innovation Center. “We are excited about Vinli’s innovative technology and look forward to welcoming the team to the Samsung family.”

Vinli is receiving a lot of attention right now, and the company raised $6.5 million in a recent round of funding led by Samsung Venture Investment Corp. It’s an interesting product that may prove to be popular with some consumers in the coming period.