Chrysler cars to have wifi

[YF19pilot]

Just saw this on the local news channel and didn't turn anything up in a search of the forums (prove me wrong if you can). From autoblog:

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/26/c...-uconnect-web/

Though we've known Chrysler has been planning to offer in-car internet connectivity on its 2009 models as an option through Mopar for a few months now, the Auburn Hills-based automaker has now given it an official name and bundled the technology with a suite of in-car tech solutions. Called uconnect web, the in-car wi-fi capability will be offered alongside other technologies called uconnect phone, uconnect tunes, uconnect gps and uconnect studios. uconnect phone is basically bluetooth compatibility that enables hands-free calling, stores your cell phone's address book and also records memos. uconnect tunes includes a 30GB hard drive for storing songs and viewing photos, and also allows playback of movies on the dashboard screen while in Park (no word on whether video can be stored on the in-dash hard drive and played back, though). uconnect gps is a touchscreen navigation system with voice recognition, and uconnect studios is Chrysler's offering of SIRIUS Backseat TV. The latter technologies are all well known and familiar, so it's understandable that everyone's going ga ga over Chrysler's promise of in-car wi-fi. We're currently checking with the automaker to find out what type of hardware the system will use, whether or not a cell phone carrier will be involved and what type of coverage area will be available. Stay tuned.

[Labcoatguy]

Oh good, something new to distract you from the crappiness of your rental car.

[GM_IV]

Originally Posted by Labcoatguy

Oh good, something new to distract you from the crappiness of your rental car.

Interesting note, my branch actually has less than 10 Chrysler/Dodge cars and that's the Caliber and PT Cruiser, thankfully my branch carries no Sebrings/Avengers mainly because nobody wants to drive one. Very few of our customers like the Chrysler cars, most of our general area fleet of Sebrings/Avengers were sold off early due to poor reception plus problems.

[Labcoatguy]

Originally Posted by GM_IV

Interesting note, my branch actually has less than 10 Chrysler/Dodge cars and that's the Caliber and PT Cruiser, thankfully my branch carries no Sebrings/Avengers mainly because nobody wants to drive one. Very few of our customers like the Chrysler cars, most of our general area fleet of Sebrings/Avengers were sold off early due to poor reception plus problems.

I pity the fool who buys ex-rental Sebrings and Avengers. I've rented a Magnum and a Caliber once; both of them had terrible rear visibility and reasonably tolerable handling, especially with the lift-off oversteer I got on the Caliber when I took an interstate off-ramp slightly too hot. Couldn't imagine buying them at anything but a tremendously low price though.

[Hidden_Hunter]

my parents rented a 3 month old town and country (last time dad ever rents the "wildcard") and the dash was litterally falling out, if you pressed the radio it fell back in its spot...

Quality

[torqueless]

no, this is way too "brave new world" for me.

[Wizegui]

What's the point? The short range of Wifi isn't going to make surfing the internet on the go very easy. Wifi or any other gadgets isn't going to compensate for a rubbish car. It's like trying to garnish a piece of spoiled fish with caviar.

[teeb]

It could conceivably be cool, if you're roadtripping with friends (and laptops), and the ones not driving can surf the net. Then again if you're roadtripping with friends and the best thing you can think to do is surf the net...

I think Autoblog suggested that, too, you could park the car in your garage and use its wifi as your main internet source.

Also, this reminds me of the one thing I want in a car. A normal sized plug socket, so I can plug my laptop in without an adaptor.

[Deanodriver]

Oh awesome, that means you have something to do while at the side of the road waiting for the repair van :p

I kid, I kid.

[chaos386]

I like this. It'd let me stream my entire music collection to my car wherever it is. No more burning & swapping out CDs or constantly uploading to an HDD in the dash as my music collection grows.

[Twerp128]

So just tailgate a Chrysler when you want to check your E-Mail, great idea.

[DarkReaper]

And how many wifi-access points are there littered arround your highways again? I don't exactly remember there being a gapless free coverage.

Service will either be ridicously spotty or ridicously expensive.

[chaos386]

They're going to use 3G networks, so coverage should be fairly good.