At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona today, car maker Audi of America and wireless carrier AT&T announced a joint plan to bring LTE, 4G and 3G wireless connectivity to all of Audi's 2016 model-year vehicles.
Audi released a vehicle with a 4G LTE connection last year in its A3 model. It was the first car to ever contain a Wi-Fi hot spot using a 3G service tethered to Audi's T-Mobile-supported Connect system.
The 2016 AT&T-connected models include the A3, S3, Q3, A4, S4, Allroad, A5, S5, Q5, SQ5, A6, S6, A7, S7, RS7, TT, TTS, A8, and S8.
Drivers who opt for Audi 2016 models will receive an AT&T SIM card that provides the connection to AT&T's wireless Connect network which will grant customers "enhanced traffic information and navigation, over the air map updates, social media and mobile app integration with access to more than 7,000 Web radio stations as well as Internet radio in vehicles with 4G/LTE hardware."
"The convenience and added benefit of having Audi Connect services in our vehicles, along with Wi-Fi access for up to eight devices, serves as a competitive advantage for our brand," Filip Brabec, Audi's director of product management, said in a press release. "We have been and intend to remain innovators in this field."
Many of the 182,000 cars Audi sold last year were ordered with the Connect system included. As a part of the new agreement, AT&T now has the means to subscribe drivers to new or expanded data contracts as they become used to using faster Internet download speeds.
Other car manufacturers will likely follow Audi and AT&T in the connected car trend. For instance, General Motors has already offered 4G LTE in several of its models in 2013. However, while 4G LTE is faster and more reliable than 3G networks, it can get become an expensive proposition. In-car network plans vary, but $50 per month payment plans (add extra fees for greedier downloaders) have been typical. Given the prices of Audi's autos, which go from the $30,000 A3 to the $115,000 S8, frugal drivers may want to saddle kids and companions with the smartphones and tablets they'll likely carry into the car anyway.
Photo Credit: Josh Sniffen | Flickr
