A growing number of cars, including those made by Mopar brands, are coming with an available Wi-Fi hotspot. For a monthly subscription, your vehicle can receive a satellite internet connection, and then an on-board wireless router lets people connect their devices to the vehicle’s Wi-Fi signal. There are several reasons why a connection like this can come in handy on the road.
A Stronger Signal
When you use your phone’s data plan to send and receive information like texts and emails, you’re relying on your provider’s network of cell towers. These towers cover a lot of the United States, but there are still dead zones where there are no nearby towers to receive your phone’s signal, especially if you head west. Vehicle Wi-Fi uses a satellite to connect you to the internet, and while the connection isn’t perfect, it does give you the same good signal just about anywhere in the United States.
Lower Costs
Your vehicle’s Wi-Fi only works so long as you pay a subscription, but the monthly fee is reasonable and usually doesn’t go up when you use the connection more often. However, when you’re out on the road there’s a good chance you’ll be “data roaming” according to your phone service, and that can add to your monthly bill. Using your vehicle’s Wi-Fi connection avoids those added costs, which is how paying that monthly subscription can be cheaper in the long run.
Software Updates
Along with providing a Wi-Fi connection for your smartphones and other devices, the same subscription usually gives you other services that improve your vehicle’s systems. For instance, the connection can update your navigation system to show road closures, newly constructed roads, and real-time traffic updates. You could also get a connection to a live operator who can help you with things like finding a local restaurant or other business. This connection can also let your vehicle’s manufacturer send software updates to fix bugs and remove security threats.
Car Connectivity
There’s a good chance that car-based Wi-Fi may be the connection vehicles need to become completely safe and self-driving. For years now, engineers have known that it’s not enough to have cameras and sensors to see the road, the lines, and obstacles. Vehicles should also know exactly where to find each other so they can plan routes that take them through intersections without any risk of hitting each other. If every vehicle broadcast its own Wi-Fi hotspot, that might turn out to be just the kind of signal cars need to be aware of each other.
Not every vehicle owner needs a Wi-Fi connection, but those who regularly have a lot of passengers or go on long trips through dead zones will get a lot of use out of it. Not only that, but the subscription that activates your vehicle’s hotspot usually comes with other benefits you can’t get anywhere else. Thanks to benefits like these and the possible safety benefits, you’ll probably see more vehicles equipped to offer Wi-Fi in the future.
Image via Flickr by Dana Spiegel used Under CC BY-SA 2.0
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