GM to outfit Chevy vehicles with 4G from AT&T

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-EXCITE

LAS VEGAS (AP) - GM says it will start outfitting most Chevrolet vehicles with 4G cellular capabilities in partnership with AT&T. The technology will let drivers make phone calls and allow passengers to surf the Web without burning through the voice and data limits on their phone plans.

General Motors Co. (GM) said at the International CES gadget show Sunday that the 2015 model year Chevrolet Corvette, Impala, Malibu and Volt will be the first to come equipped with the capabilities this year, followed by the Equinox, Silverado, Silverado HD, Spark and Spark EV.

While the hardware will be standard, pricing plans have yet to be announced.

The cellular capability will be integrated with GM's OnStar roadside assistance service. OnStar currently costs upward of $199 a year and has more than 6 million subscribers.

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140106/DAB535F00.html

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Since texting causes accidents, do we really want surfing in the car?

[RC]

1. Yeah, but think of the GPS capabilities.

Our trackers will know every place your car has ever been.
But I couldn't have robbed the bank at 1st and Main, your Honor. My car was at... err, a friend's house, that's it, a friend's house, on the corner of Mulberry and Locus all day.

[eggplant]

2. This isn't nefarious

You can already be tracked by the phone on your hip, and criminals really aren't bright enough to turn them off.

My guess is that GM's motive is to eliminate the infrastructure costs of supporting OnStar by switching its traffic over to 4G.

As for surfing in the car, that would be for the passengers.

[Auggie]

3. "eliminate infrastructure costs" -- spot on

Gives them a hipper marketing angle too.

[awoke_in_2003]

11. I can leave my phone at home. nt

[benld74]

4. 4G but gas mileage STILL needs help, IMHOP

[Xipe Totec]

5. I read: "GM to outfit Cheney vehicles with 4G from AT&T"

I was wondering if it was possible to hack in and RC control the Dick.

[onehandle]

6. And Ralph Nader is whining because his Sirius/XM investment is crashing.

Tough shit, Ralphy. But you have your other millions to roll around in.

[happyslug]

7. I like how the article gives a glowing report to OnStar

Six Million subscribers!!! that sounds like a lot, but GM has provided the CAPACITY for OnStar in all of their cars for at least the last ten years. Since 2009 GM has sold 2.0 to 2.7 million cars a year. Thus if we look at the last five years, GM has sold 12 million cars, year over HALF did NOT retain OnStar?? (This is assuming when the car is sold used, the new owners do NOT adopt OnStar for their own use, something they can do).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors

The number of cars sold by GM has dropped almost 50% from what GM sold in the 1990s and till 2006, it was this drop in sales more then any increase in sales by Toyota that made Toyota the #1 car seller in the world in 2008. GM regained the title in 2011 and still holds it.

OnStar has been around since 1995, but the present digital system since 2008:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OnStar

[MADem]

26. Who needs ONSTAR? I have a tracfone and AAA! nt

[KurtNYC]

8. 23 times more dangerous than driving undistracted, 6 times worse than drunk driving

330,000 injuries per year, 3,000 deaths and the leading killer of teenaged drivers.

If they would have put a beer tap on the dashboard it would have been 6 times safer than this.

http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/files/Driving-while-Texting-Six-Times-More-Dangerous-than-Driving-while-Drunk.html#.UsrrHvuwRw0

[Fred Sanders]

15. What next? Loaded guns and a kegger in the back seat?

[KurtNYC]

19. That combo used to be legal in Texas

Gun rack in the cab, keg in the bed of the truck with the tap through the split glass.

Next is video games for the driver projected on to the windshield:

http://www.hudwayapp.com/

[BobUp]

9. Just lovely,

where's the fuse panel?

[Fred Sanders]

16. Tssk, tssk...

[kristopher]

10. This is laying the groundwork for auto piloted autos

I edited a technical paper out of Honda R&D back in the late 80's on their concept for the Intelligent Vehicle Highway Control System. There are many names for it, but the combination of 4G wireless, tremendous advances in computing power and the ever improving accuracy of satellite mapping is pushing us close to the point where all the pieces are in place for automated personal transportation. It isn't what is being directly discussed, but I believe it's what this is leading us towards.


Automakers Join With Google To Offer Android Software
http://www.npr.org/2014/01/06/260118984/alliance-to-bring-googles-android-operating-system-to-cars

Google partners with Audi, GM, Honda, Hyundai and Nvidia to take Android into cars
http://thenextweb.com/google/2014/01/06/google-partners-audi-gm-honda-hyundai-nvidia-take-android-cars/

[MADem]

27. People will read the paper on their tablets as they "drive" to work.

Hurray for Otto Pilot, I guess....!

It's legal in CA already....

[seabeckind]

12. Of course but halfassed

The natural progression was for innovative technology to progess from a luxury for few to widespread acceptance with competing implemetations to finally a standardization of the technology at the infrastructure level and then leading to a public utility.

Eg, electricity was available and very expensive and limited to those who could afford it. Cities then began expanding it, ie, competition between DC and AC, 60 cycle 2-phase, etc. Then the gov't (we, the people) standardized, did the grid, Rural Electrification, etc. Yipee...next step toasters, lighting, etc.

At least that's the way it was before the corporations took over and proceeded to divide the herd.

We are well past the time when cellular should be removed from the private monopolies and made a utility and part of the public domain.

Same, same cable teevee. True ala carte with value added.

WiFi and broadband.

These things should belong to society and be controlled and regulated by society so everybody gets it.

[blkmusclmachine]

13. It's all about what the NSA wants. They still intend on putting cameras & microphones in our cars &

television sets, too.

Big Brother is here.

[Fred Sanders]

14. Wireless In Cars is Mass Suicide and Murder By Stupid and Distracted.

But it passes the costs/benefits test, so it is all good......

[debunkthis]

17. Yet one more reason not to buy a new GM vehicle

Right behind OnStar on the list. I, for one, refuse to willingly participate in enabling the NSA to illegally track my everyday movements. It's none of their damn business where I go and what i do with my time!!!

For those who say "but they can track you with your cell phone" my response is "No, they can't". I cancelled my cell service after Mr. Snowden was kind enough to give up a life of relative luxury to warn us of what our government is doing in clear violation of the 4th Amendment, but I digress...

[CANDO]

25. Welcome to the stone ages.

I suppose you use cash with all economic transactions? If you use any plastic at all, debit/credit, corporations know what brand of toothpaste you prefer. They know what you wipe yourself with, Charmin or Scott Tissues. You cannot hide from progress.

[debunkthis]

30. For about 90% of my transactions

I do use cash.

[snooper2]

32. The chip they stuck in you during that last operation is all they need

You can dig it out with a knife but it's going to hurt like a sonabitch!

[bemildred]

18. Yet another reason to not buy GM. nt

[Omaha Steve]

22. Toyota is starting their service ASAP to compete with OnStar

Last edited Tue Jan 7, 2014, 02:58 AM - Edit history (1)

Ford's system can be tracked too I am told.

[bemildred]

23. You can't win. nt

[twirlybird]

20. Do we really wan't the NSA monitoring everthing we do and say or where we go?

Not to mention the ability for some hacker (any 3 letter agency?) taking control of your vehicle and crashing them into trees at high speed....bursting into flames and roasting the occupants!

[jmowreader]

21. So if I want 4G, but I don't like AT&T?

[NMDemDist2]

24. ^^^^^^^ this^^^^^^^^^ n/t

[PSPS]

28. Another continuous audio eavesdropper just like OnStar.

[BlueStreak]

29. Why would I want to pay YET ANOTHER monthly fee?

When you can accomplish the same stuff simply using a Bluetooth connection with my current cell phone, save the extra charge and not be locked into a particular provider?

Seriously folks, it is the recurring monthly charges that kill everybody's budgets.

[Historic NY]

31. Onstar already has phone capability....

I use mine mainly if I am on the road traveling. It does come in handy. I don't need to use my regular cell phone. I keep a hundred minutes. It will dial on voice command. I also have my cell setup so I can answer using the bluetooth system.

It says nothing about drivers surfing.

"The technology will let drivers make phone calls and allow passengers to surf"

Right now there are certain functions with the radios, sound systems, etc. that cannot be performed in a moving GM car.

[AngryAmish]

33. Goodbye radio

Pandora in the car. Perfect.

[dembotoz]

34. just what i need another car payment

i know how to get to and from work and my cell phone works fine