Both Tesla and Audi announced at the CES 2014 in Las Vegas that they have entered into a partnership with the wireless carrier AT&T to produce vehicles that comes with features usually found in smartphones. In what is being dubbed as "connected cars," the three companies will work together to produce vehicles that will come with a variety of cellular-enabled systems such as wireless diagnostics and online entertainment systems.
The recent announcement mirrors similar moves made by other car manufacturers such as Nissan and GM and is part of AT&T's concerted efforts in making "connected cars" real. The effort is centered on the company's AT&T Drive platform. AT&T has also announced that it will be opening a 5,000 square feet facility called the Drive Studio. This facility will allow car manufacturers to bring in their vehicles to install and test out AT&T Drive-enabled systems. While the facility is yet to be completed, AT&T has already poured in millions of dollars to build its Drive Studio.
"Our goal was to be best [sic] partner we can be," said AT&T head of emerging devices, Glenn Lurie, in a statement.
While certainly new and currently untested, the AT&T Drive system may help car manufacturers experiment with new wireless technologies in upcoming vehicles. Given the expertise and experience AT&T has to offer, car manufacturers stand to gain a lot in an increasingly competitive automotive market. The same can be said for AT&T who has been undergoing a fierce battle with competitors for the dominant position in the U.S. mobile services sector.
The new AT&T Drive platform can be the nucleus for a wide range of innovations in automotive technology. From new auto safety features to streaming content entertainment systems, AT&T's Drive system can help all of the companies involved to expand into uncharted territories.
AT&T has expressed hope that its "connected cars" concept will bear fruit and turn into a profitable new sector for the wireless carrier to do business in. Given the fact that more and more everyday objects are starting to go wireless, AT&T's efforts may indeed be a step in the right direction.
