BMW's in-car internet coming to U.S. later this year
It looks like BMW will begin rolling out its in-car internet system to markets outside of Germany sooner than expected, according to Automotive News. ConnectedDrive offers unrestricted access to the Web through the EDGE network, one of the faster mobile connections on the planet, and while backseat passengers can surf while on the go, front seat occupants will have to keep their speed under 5 kph if they want to check their favorite websites. BMW is setting up the system so that unlimited access will cost customers 15 euros each month.
BMW will begin offering the service to German consumers this September, with ConnectedDrive (click link for video) coming to 'Net-addicted Bimmer owners throughout Europe and the U.S. soon afterwards. AN contacted Mercedes-Benz and Audi to ask if they intended to offer similar systems in the future. Both of automakers responded in the negative, saying that demand isn't sufficient enough to justify the expense. BMW obviously thinks otherwise, as does Chrysler, which is developing its own system, due out before the end of the year.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Yago Bal 3:01PM (5/05/2008)
EDGE is one of the SLOWEST mobile connections on the planet.
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JasonK 3:05PM (5/05/2008)
werd. get with the program autoblog, this isn't 1999 anymore.
Damon Lavrinc 3:08PM (5/05/2008)
Ha! You should read the AutoNews article. "The service will operate via an EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) mobile connection, currently the fastest universal mobile connection available."
Ummm... No. That's why I said, "one of the faster." I pray nightly that we get the same system some of our friends abroad enjoy.
alan 5:51PM (5/05/2008)
Ha! You should read the AutoNews article. "The service will operate via an EDGE (Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution) mobile connection, currently the fastest UNIVERSAL mobile connection available."
Ummm...Yes. Edge is the currently the fastest most widely available type of mobile connection.
Cary 9:40PM (5/05/2008)
Alan = FAIL
EV-DO REV A > EDGE
Cary 9:43PM (5/05/2008)
BTW, I am aware that EDGE is more widely available. Still sucks, still slower. Eventually, the rest of the world will realize that better is better.
tbyron 10:34PM (5/05/2008)
damn, just read some of your sister blogs (engadget and the mobile vers). casual regurgitation of mfr's hype isn't very helpful or interesting.
Yago Bal 2:21AM (5/06/2008)
The rest of the world realized better is better ages ago, with 3G... only in the US the EDGE network is the "fastest most widely available type of mobile connection"... Since the US is such a tiny fraction of the world, I'd hardly call it UNIVERSAL.
rouse42 3:08PM (5/05/2008)
do you think we will be able to bluetooth or wifi our laptops to the system.
would love to see everybody else jump on board.
even the aftermarket.
would probably be $30-40m here in the states.
would be really cool if we could get unlimited access for $20m
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Andrew L 3:12PM (5/05/2008)
I am still afraid of these things getting spyware or a virus and then someone taking it to a BMW dealer and getting horribly ripped off
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Chaz 3:49PM (5/05/2008)
Since when does it take a computer virus for a BMW dealer to horribly rip someone off?
3seriesisking 11:19PM (5/05/2008)
Yeah.....um.....exactly how would that work?
Torrent 3:19PM (5/05/2008)
useless. If I was gonna get a Car with internet, I'd just get an RV..... Or a Maybach....
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EndlessMike 3:22PM (5/05/2008)
Please tell my iPhone that EDGE is fast, since it doesn't seem to understand that.
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Dude 3:23PM (5/05/2008)
The Ultimate Browsing Machine?
Man, BMW really has hit rock bottom.
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thesvtautox 3:35PM (5/05/2008)
do we really need more distractions in cars?
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Brandon C 3:31PM (5/05/2008)
can we say surfing the web going 70mph = Death
it should have 2 sensors to be able to surf the web
1. speed sensor if you go above 5mph it disconnects you.
2. a passenger sensor if you are to go 5mph and the net still working your passenger must be the one using it and the display must be facing the passenger
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NeoMoose 3:27PM (5/05/2008)
That will be great when I run my car into a ditch while surfing the net. Then I can let everyone know about it on my Twitter without even getting out of the car.
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jgp 3:27PM (5/05/2008)
How long before someone totals their car because they were reading Autoblog while driving?
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h8rain 3:32PM (5/05/2008)
"... front seat occupants will have to keep their speed under 5 kph if they want to check their favorite websites."
Even with restriction, I bet someone could still total a car (going off a bridge maybe?)