Autoblog

GM to make most cars LTE hotspots for 2015

Jeffrey N. Ross — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Infotainment

General Motors isn't the first automaker to deliver in-car Internet access, but a proposed plan announced today could make the technology more widespread than any of its competitors have offered. By the 2015 model year, most Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC products in the US and Canada will offer 4G LTE mobile broadband access. Initially, GM will just be pairing with AT&T to deliver this service, but additional carriers will be revealed in the future.

Current in-car Wi-Fi hot spots are limited to 3G, but GM says that 4G LTE is 10 times faster than 3G service and will allow for full Internet access, including streaming video for entertainment as well as services like real-time traffic updates and navigation driving directions. There is also no need for a paired smartphone with this new system, which should make it easier to use, and GM and AT&T will also be working together to develop new apps for customers.

Buyers can expect to start seeing 4G LTE in their cars starting next year, and GM is already planning to expand the service to other global markets as well. All of the information from GM's announcement is posted in a press release below.

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GM to make most cars LTE hotspots for 2015 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Feb 2013 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Read an excerpt from Whitacre's book about how he fired Henderson and why Akerson got the job

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., GM

It is probably best just to play this down the middle and let you read the excerpt from American Turnaround: Reinventing AT&T and GM and the Way We Do Business in the USA by Ed Whitacre. The author, you'll remember, was the former AT&T CEO who came out of retirement to take the position of chairman at General Motors in June of 2009. Six months later, he took the role of CEO, and on September 1, 2010 he was replaced by current CEO Dan Akerson and gave up the chairmanship at the end of that year.

To read the excerpt, you're going to have to get past the Fortune headline "How Ed Whitacre brought GM back from the brink." Now, Whitacre didn't choose that headline, and since we're playing this down the middle, we can't say that the headline isn't the only eyebrow-raising line in the piece - but we won't charge it to Whitacre's account. However, when it takes five years to develop a single car, and redesigning a taillight for a midcycle refresh might take a year, we're not sure how anyone can reinvent a global automaker in just nine-months as CEO. Perhaps we should ask Ford boss Alan Mullaly about that timeframe.

To the point, the book will be out on February 12 - you can pre-order it on Amazon now - and Whitacre's explanation of how Fritz Henderson was let go, how he got the CEO position and how Akerson came to follow will be sure to get enthusiasts intrigued in what else the complete tome might say. All you've got to do is follow the link to read it.

Read an excerpt from Whitacre's book about how he fired Henderson and why Akerson got the job originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T Labs, Carnegie Mellon investigating steering wheels with haptic feedback for navigation

Zach Bowman — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Technology

Any device or system that draws a driver's attention away from the road is inherently distracting, but some navigation systems are better than others. Now, AT&T Labs is said to be hard at work developing a steering wheel with haptic feedback that may allow more drivers to keep their eyes off of the center console screen. According to MIT's Technology Review, the system uses 20 small actuators to to create a pattern of vibrations in the wheel. When the wheel buzzes clockwise, the driver is meant to turn to the right, while counterclockwise vibrations suggest turning left. The company's research indicates that when the system is used with standard audio and visual cues, inattentiveness in younger drivers drops by around 3.1 percent.

Researchers defined "inattentiveness" as time spent looking away from the road in driving simulations. The haptics had no impact on older drivers, but a separate study by Carnegie Mellon indicated drivers over the age of 65 could see their inattentiveness drop by around four percent.

Even with the promising results, it will likely be years before a similar system could be adopted by automakers, if it ever reaches the market at all.

AT&T Labs, Carnegie Mellon investigating steering wheels with haptic feedback for navigation originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Focus Electric gets connected by AT&T

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:32:00 EST

Filed under: Technology, Hatchback, Ford, Electric

MyFord Mobile App for the 2012 Focus Electric - Click above for high-res image gallery

Hot on the heels of Audi's announcement to use T-Mobile for its future wireless data needs, Ford has partnered with AT&T to provide connectivity to the 2012 Focus Electric.

Nearly every EV or plug-in hybrid coming to market will offer some combination of embedded wireless data and an accompanying smartphone app, and as we saw at CES with our exclusive hands-on of MyFord Mobile, FoMoCo will be offering a similar solution for its all-electric Focus hatchback.

The partnership Ma Bell and the Blue Oval involves an embedded wireless connection in the EV that allows drivers with the MyFord Mobile app to keep track of charging, set specific times of the day to juice up (late at night when electrons are cheap) and receive a variety of notifications, ranging from battery status to maintenance reminders.

MapQuest has been tapped to provide charging station locations, range alerts, trip planning and vehicle location, and the MyFord Mobile app also includes the ability to remotely lock and unlocks doors, heat and cool the interior and download performance and system data. And if your phone doesn't have the app, you can use any HTML5-based or WAP 2.0-supported browser to keep tabs on your EV. Hit the jump for the full details and check out our write-up on MyFord Mobile.

Gallery: Hands On: MyFord Mobile App

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Ford Focus Electric gets connected by AT&T originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: AT&T tugs at heart strings with distracted driving documentary

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:55:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Videos

AT&T anti-texting documentary "The Last Text" - Click above to watch video after the jump

AT&T launched the "It Can Wait" campaign earlier in the spring of 2010. The idea behind the movement is to create more awareness about the dangers of texting and driving. In order to create more visual impact, AT&T has commissioned a documentary called The Last Text, and it focuses on a few young lives that have been impacted or even cut short due to distracted driving caused by a text message.

The video may play a bit heavily with the emotional subject matter, but it also helps drive home a very important message - Many lives can be ruined in the blink of an eye - all because you had to read or send that text message. Put your phone down for a minute then hop the jump to watch The Last Text.

[Source: AT&T via Engadget]

Continue reading Video: AT&T tugs at heart strings with distracted driving documentary

Video: AT&T tugs at heart strings with distracted driving documentary originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM hires ex-AT&T execs for lobbying efforts

Dan Roth — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, GM

While the job may not be popular at all in terms of public opinion, General Motors departing lobbyist Ken Cole has done a pretty good job of making the automaker a sympathetic figure for those inclined to bend rules and bail out poorly-managed behemoths. Sure, GM's stature in the public eye is still down there with big tobacco, but Cole managed to keep the automaker's relationship with governments around the world on a somewhat even keel. No mean feat when you consider how much divestiture underpins the whole of GM's plan forward.

It might even be said that Cole the individual can't be replaced by just one person, and Ed Whitacre seemingly agrees. Two of Whitacre's former AT&T colleagues have been given offices in the company's Detroit Renaissance Center headquarters as replacements for the departing Ken Cole. John Montford has been given a seat beside Whitacre where he will put government affairs under his purview, a role he honed as AT&T's Senior Vice President of state legislative affairs. GM's new Vice President of Government Relations is Bob Ferguson, who was most recently doing public affairs consulting, but he was all over state regulatory affairs at AT&T before that. We may get to see how well these guys can dance come June, when Whitacre has vowed to pay back nearly $7 billion in government loans. Official press release after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM hires ex-AT&T execs for lobbying efforts

GM hires ex-AT&T execs for lobbying efforts originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New GM Chairman Whitacre admits: "I don't know anything about cars."

Frank Filipponio — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:57:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, GM

Newly tapped General Motors Chairman Edward E. Whitacre, Jr. may have built AT&T into a telecommunications powerhouse, but it's fair to question whether he can help do the same for GM. You see, he isn't particularly savvy on the whole auto business thing. In his own words: "I don't know anything about cars." While he admits that cars are a new consideration for him, Whitacre doesn't see it as a much of a problem: "A business is a business, and I think I can learn about cars. I'm not that old, and I think the business principles are the same."

The 67-year-old Whitacre has until Aug. 31 - the date GM is set to exit Chapter 11 - to bone up. Maybe we shouldn't be too critical. After all, former GM engineer and current 2953 Analytics principal, Jim Hall, thinks Whitacre is "a good choice" based on his experience and in the similarities he sees between AT&T and GM:

"He was one of the guys who helped create a new AT&T that wasn't so dependent on land-line phone service. There's a parallel with General Motors. GM is not now about just making cars. It's about re-creating itself as a 21st-century car company. They have to have somebody at the top that understands they have to make a new GM."

Whitacre says he was enticed out of retirement by the Treasury Department and Steven Rattner, President Barack Obama's auto task force dealmaker. He added that the Treasury basically told him, "We need your help. It's a great company. You could be a lot of assistance to GM." Big Ed says that he is helping GM out of bankruptcy as "a public service." We hope he is a quick study.

[Source: Bloomberg | Image: Mark Wilson/Getty]

New GM Chairman Whitacre admits: "I don't know anything about cars." originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eyes on the Road: AT&T bringing CruiseCast in-car satellite tv to market

Dan Roth — Mon, 25 May 2009 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Gadgets, Etc., I.C.E.

AT&T is starting to work with pockets of customers to test its CruiseCast satellite-based entertainment service before officially putting the TV/radio service on wide offer. When the whole clan is on the go, it may work to keep everyone calm and quiet, and when your Prevost motor coach is loaded up with everything else, you might as well go for the TV service, too. Truckers sticking DBS dishes on their rigs would likely be pleased with the CruiseCast system, especially since AT&T is using some new technology developments by RaySat that defeats the typical issues with line of sight obstacles and underpasses.

For comparison's sake, Sirius is cheaper and offers much more variety than AT&T's 20 music/talk radio stations, but their optional Backseat TV service only offers three television channels, and they are all geared for the kiddies. Conversely, AT&T's CruiseCast hardware must be professionally installed and will set you back $1,299, and the monthly payment is $28. Once the service is available for all customers in early June, they'll have 22 television channels to choose from. All that for the price of a used car and more than $300 bucks a year in subscription costs. Official press release posted after the jump.

[Source: Engadget]

Continue reading Eyes on the Road: AT&T bringing CruiseCast in-car satellite tv to market

Eyes on the Road: AT&T bringing CruiseCast in-car satellite tv to market originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 May 2009 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Call for Green: AT&T to add 15,000 alt-fuel vehicles to fleet

Sam Abuelsamid — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:56:00 EST

Filed under: Hybrid, Green, Electric

Click above to watch video after the jump

Although AT&T claims it wants to be more sustainable, today's announcement from the telecom behemoth is more about cutting operating expenses as fuel costs climb. Whatever the reason, the addition of 15,000 alternative fuel vehicles to the company's fleet over the next decade is a good thing. The phone company will be spending as much as $565 million over that time period to turn over much of its fleet of service and support vehicles. The lucky automaker who will get this big order hasn't been named yet, but AT&T has said it will be a domestic automaker and a domestic supplier will be used to convert the vehicles to run on CNG.

Approximately 8,000 compressed natural gas fueled trucks and vans will be deployed, starting mainly in California where there are already a significant number of CNG filling stations available. AT&T will also work with suppliers to install up to 40 more CNG stations in the areas where it operates.

Passenger cars that are used by customer service personnel will also be replaced with new hybrid vehicles. The first 800 vehicles will be put into service this year. Check out the video and press release after the jump.

UPDATE: The Detroit Free Press reports that Ford will be the lucky recipient of AT&T's large order of vehicles. Thanks for the tip, Fadi!

[Source: AT&T]

Continue reading A Call for Green: AT&T to add 15,000 alt-fuel vehicles to fleet

A Call for Green: AT&T to add 15,000 alt-fuel vehicles to fleet originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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