General Motors to offer WiFi on certain models
Automobile options have certainly evolved over the years; there was once a time when air conditioning was an option. We seem to be entering a new era however in automobile options as GM is making available this month, a dealer installed internet router, virtually turning your car into a Wi-Fi hot spot that reaches 150 feet around the car, reports Automotive News.
The device is made by San Francisco based manufacturer Autonet Mobile, and will be initially be available in GM vans, SUV’s, and crossovers and trucks.
The first batch of vehicles to offer the device are mainly family oriented ones, as the main idea is that rear-seat passengers can effectively use laptops and other portable devices while front-seat passengers might be able to do things like stream internet radio.
“Ninety percent of customers prefer surfing the Internet over just watching movies,” Sterling Pratz, Autonet Mobile’s chief executive told Automotive News. “Customers want the biggest brands the Internet has to offer in their car, such as Facebook, YouTube and FlyCast Internet radio.”
Autonet already supplies similar products for Chrysler and Volkswagen.
The device comes with a docking station, so that it may be transferred between multiple GM vehicles. Dealers will begin to offer the product in showrooms next month, and the device is also sold on a GM accessories site; www.gmextras.com. The unit retails for $499 and web access runs around $29 per month.
-By Stephen Calogera
