AT&T’s mobile broadband service to provide safety, infotainment services on future BMWs

BMW i8 Interior

The 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is generating a lot of buzz for the automotive industry. First, General Motors generated a lot of buzz around the OnStar system and then Hyundai made headlines with its Blue Link connectivity system. AT&T has now announced that it has entered into an agreement with BMW to wirelessly deliver an enhanced suite of safety and infotainment services on future models from the German automaker.

The new connected services will build on the current BMW Assist feature which includes direct access to emergency and concierge call center services, traffic information and an online portal for weather forecasts, fuel prices, and news.

“This is an exciting opportunity,” said Glenn Lurie, president, emerging devices, resale and partnerships, AT&T. “BMW has been an industry leader in the connected vehicle space for many years and we look forward to providing the wireless network that will keep drivers connected to the content and services they rely on.”

No word on when this AT&T technology will make it into BMWs but the press release states that more details on the services will be provided on launch date.

Check out the press release after the jump.

Press Release:

AT&T to Provide Wireless Services for Enhanced Functionality to Premium Automaker

Enhanced Suite of Connected Services Delivered Over AT&T Mobile Broadband Network
Dallas, Texas, January 04, 2011

AT&T, the leader in emerging devices, today announced an agreement with BMW to wirelessly deliver an enhanced suite of safety and infotainment services to future BMW models.

These enhancements build on BMW’s existing portfolio of connected services – known as BMW Assist – which includes, among others features, direct access to emergency and concierge call center services, traffic information and an online portal for weather forecasts, fuel prices, and news.

Contractual and financial details are not being disclosed. Information on enhanced services will be made available at launch.

AT&T created its emerging device organization in late 2008 as part of a strategic initiative to introduce wireless capabilities to a host of new consumer electronics, tracking and healthcare devices, and other applications beyond the traditional handset.

The organization is a key component of AT&T’s business strategy to further grow its wireless penetration and develop new distribution models — and it builds on AT&T’s industry-leading work over the past decade with enterprise customers to enable specialty devices to access its wireless network.

AT&T, which offers the nation’s fastest mobile broadband network, announced in October that more than 4.5 million connected devices had been added to the AT&T network in the past four quarters. The total third quarter emerging devices growth, which includes 1.2 million connected devices as well as embedded computing devices, was nearly 1.6 million.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

– By: Omar Rana