GM Vehicles To Be Equipped With 4G LTE Hotspot

By the end of 2014, more than 30 GM vehicles are expected to be equipped with high-speed 4G LTE hotspots. This innovative setup will allow the vehicles to provide a connection to up to seven devices at once. For those who don’t want to lose track of Netflix when they run into the local mini mart, the LTE connection stays strong up to 50 feet away from the vehicle.

John McFarland, senior manager of global strategic marketing and infotainment at General Motors explained the magnitude of the announcement in a statement.  McFarland explained that, “at CES [Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas] when we made the announcement we said unequivocally and it still stands that it is the biggest, it is the broadest and the largest deployment anywhere [of car connectivity] in the world by any auto brand.”

GM is adding the Internet to their vehicles at a time when it has been tech companies that seemed to be setting the pace for in-car technology. The CarPlay from Apple and Android Auto devices staked claims in 2014 to put their Bluetooth-linked smartphone systems into new vehicles. GM is providing an opportunity to access the web from a vehicle hotspot, while the other in-car technologies still rely on individual cell phone connections. The new in-car LTE connection will not be free. It will be a new monthly expense to go with your vehicle.

McFarland explained the potential cost by saying that, “we also know a car is another device that needs to be added to their monthly bill. We’re offering data plans that start as low as $5 a month.” Reports online indicate that the price will be between $5 to $50 dollars per month on top of the $20-30 cost of GM’s OnStar service. The pricing breakdown according to a report by Extreme Tech, is as follows:

• 200 MB per month = $5 ($10 without Directions & Connections plan)
• 1GB per month = $15 ($20 without Directions & Connections)
• 3GB per month = $30
• 5GB per month = $50
• 250 MB for one day = $5
• 10GB over 12 months = $150 ($200 without Directions & Connections)
• AT&T Share Plan customers = $10 per month per GM car

This new GM in-car Wi-Fi hotspot may seem like a great way to keep kids entertained on an iPad, however there are also business possibilities. Individuals who travel often or simply work remotely could benefit from having having fast Internet available from the comfy confines of their vehicle. Whether it’s for family time or business, this innovation for GM puts them at the forefront of in-car technology as we move towards 2015.