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Chrysler to offer Wi-Fi in 2009 autos

By | June 26, 2008, 6:54am PDT

Summary: How about a router for your car? The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Chrysler will announce today that it will offer Internet access in its 2009 Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep models. As someone who has been chided for texting while driving, I’m not sure I need the temptation. According to the LAT, [...]

How about a router for your car? The Los Angeles Times is reporting that Chrysler will announce today that it will offer Internet access in its 2009 Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep models. As someone who has been chided for texting while driving, I’m not sure I need the temptation.

According to the LAT, the automaker will employ a system called UConnect Web that will include a Wi-Fi router that will grab bandwidth from a 3G cellular network and deliver downloads of up to 800Kbps. Call it a CAN, for car area network.

The UConnect Web system will be an extension to Chrysler’s existing UConnect offering, which provides Bluetooth connectivity within the car. The automaker did not disclose pricing, but USA Today reports that UConnect Web will cost $449, plus installation fees of up to $50; monthly service will be about $30.

Of course, Chrysler says the in-car Net access is intended to be used only by passengers (or by drivers when the car is not in motion). Of course, drivers will do differently.

And for you war drivers out there, UConnect Web will give you an entirely new game.

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Rik Fairlie

http://blogs.zdnet.com/fairlie/?page_id=100

Biography

Rik Fairlie

For the past 15 years, Rik Fairlie has covered technology and the business of technology for numerous publications and Web sites, including CNET, PC Magazine, Computer Shopper, Family PC, and Mobile Computing. He has also published tech stories in The New York Times, Frequent Flyer, and Travel & Leisure. Rik has served as editor in chief of Computer Shopper and managing editor of Mobile Communications. ///

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Works only when in Park or neutral.
ddrokosh@... 23rd Jul 2008
Sure I'd support the concept, but only when the vehicle is motionless and in Park.

As for texting & driving, I hope the next person you injure when texting is your own child. Maybe then you will stop.
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Maybe just maybe
hrpuffnstuff 26th Jun 2008
Chrysler should start working on the quality of their cars and leave the installation of gizmos to car owners who like modding their cars. Back to the basics, a quality product that can hold a candle to the likes of Toyota.

Disclaimer: I have owned many different cars both foreign and American and now drive a Toyta Prius.
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don't be so sanctimonius
Paul Fletcher 27th Jun 2008
the Prius isn't all it's cracked up to be. The Smart for 2 beats it as a small car. Just about any turbo-diesel crushes it on the highway.

Just wait until you have to replace that battery pack!!!

On the whole Toyota s aren't that much better, their drivers just have lower expectations
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Video is an obvious application
Michael Kelly 26th Jun 2008
that would benefit. No more DVDs.

But yeah, there's the stupid driver issue. But then again, if there isn't Wi-Fi, they'll find something else stupid to do.
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Because that's exactly where the idea belongs...in the can. Granted, I'm sure Chrysler's focus is for the non-drivers out there, but I can guarantee that this will just add another distraction to drivers. Call me old fashioned, but when I was learning to drive, we were taught what was most important was what was going on OUTSIDE the 2000 pound weapon you're hurtling down the road in...NOT inside.
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Thank you, Chrysler...
Userama 26th Jun 2008
for making driving more exciting. Now, in addition to having to dodge jerks on cell phones, there will be morons on the internet. Way to go!!!
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LOL, yeh gives new meaning to Moble Porn! nt.
JustAnAboveAverageJoe 26th Jun 2008
.
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Not enough - wasted potential
j.m.galvin 26th Jun 2008
I'm disappointed. They could have done
so much more.

How am I supposed to type while
driving without a keyboard and mouse
built into the steering wheel?

How am I supposed to check all my
email without a monitor built in? Really,
how important is it to have the stupid
speedometer and fuel gauge and
temperature thingy staring you in the
face. They could have trashed these and
put a nice 12 inch monitor in their
place.

I mean, come on, who cares how fast
you're going or if you have any fuel or
not? Those things are trivial compared
to checking email.
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Still Not enough
tonedeafdog 1st Jul 2008
Wait, wait - you're missing a golden opportunity. They need to make everything a heads-up display. You can just toggle between windows if you need to see your dashboard.

Better yet, just eliminate the steering wheel and replace it with a mouse.
I can't believe this take precedence over more efficient running vehicles. This is another way to keep drivers on the road longer and make it more convient for them to stay in their cars and burn fuel. Imagine how much fuel would be wasted browsing the Internet or answering email for a half hour with the motor and AC running. I don't normally believe in more goverment controls but this seems like a likely candidate for goverment stepping in and saying, "NO!," we need to encourage people to stay out of their cars and conserve fuel not use more.
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It's not really WiFi
Kvandenbroek 27th Jun 2008
Just to clarify, this is not WiFI ... it's called WiMAX. Google it and you'll see that it's been around for quite a while. Ford Motors has something similar working for it in the Sync concept. One of the effects of WiMAX is that it could spell the end of satellite radio and terrestrial radio. It could also lead to the Golden Age of Internet radio. Think about it: You'll be able to listen to one of about 30,000 streaming music stations in your car. It also means that virtually anyone can be a broadcaster as it costs less-than-a-grand to set up a station and about $20-$50 a month to stream. The FCC has no control over this type of broadcasting. Sure, Internet broadcasters will have to pay royalties, but it's about to lead to a whole new ballgame in streaming media.
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This is an obvious next step, people. If it wasn't Chrysler, it would have been Ford or GM. We've obviously gotten good at dodging idiots on cell phones behind the wheel, so why should this be any different?

WiFi in autos just makes it easier for the law to track your habits is all.
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It's just another sales pitch!! One can accomplish the same with minimum data security risk using their own cellphones as USB modems to connect laptops to the internet. And it will be a lot cheaper option compared to what Chrysler has to offer!!
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I can just see it now. Single Occupant Vehicles in "Lovers' Lane."
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Works only when in Park or neutral.
ddrokosh@... 23rd Jul 2008
Sure I'd support the concept, but only when the vehicle is motionless and in Park.

As for texting & driving, I hope the next person you injure when texting is your own child. Maybe then you will stop.

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