General Motors Co. announced that the next generation of its OnStar in-vehicle communications system will feature 4G connectivity and enable vehicles to function as Wi-Fi hot spots.
The rollout of the service, which employs long-term evolution (LTE) technology, will enable Chevrolet vehicles to be used as mobile Internet hot spots, and allow passengers to connect to laptops, tablets and smart phones directly to the vehicle’s Wi-Fi service, GM said. One vehicle will be able to accommodate multiple devices at a time, GM said.
GM’s service partner, AT&T, will give its current customers the option of adding their vehicle to a shared data plan. Drivers also can pay for data access as a stand-alone option, GM said. Pricing and data packages for the new OnStar service will be announced later in 2014, GM said.
“We know that our customers rely on being connected on a daily, if not hourly basis, and they expect to be provided with the information and content they desire with no interruptions,” said Mary Chan, president of GM’s global connected consumer division.
By Truck Fleet Management
