Click to Enlarge.
Volkswagen of America will be offering through wireless providers Verizon and T-Mobile a so-called Carrier of Choice in late September. Volkswagen appears to be the first automaker working with both Verizon and T-Mobile to offer customers the choice from multiple wireless providers to enable Car-Net’s in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot.
In the fast-growing world of connected cars there remain large questions about anti-trust regulations and their application – if any has been attempted – to protect consumers from cartel or monopoly pricing. Car-Net, with in-car Wi-Fi capability when you subscribe to a data plan, is standard equipment on most 2020 model year and forward Volkswagen vehicles. The Carrier of Choice program will be available starting late September this year.
Car-Net Hotspot allows passengers to access the internet with up to four connected devices simultaneously, including compatible tablets, smartphones, laptops, gaming devices at a claimed 4G LTE-enabled speed. Verizon Wireless or T-Mobile customers with an existing mobile data plan can add their Volkswagen vehicle as a new line item to their existing monthly bill; non-Verizon or T-Mobile customers can set up an unlimited plan for $20/month, plus any applicable taxes and fees.
Starting with model year 2021, some VW vehicles equipped with MIB3 offer more infotainment features. With an active data plan, drivers can access iHeart Radio and TIDAL media streaming apps with a paid subscription. Additional subscriptions from Car-Net offer more: The Plus Nav subscription for $49/year gives drivers real-time traffic and route updates. The Plus Online Radio subscription for $8/year provides over 30,000 global radio stations. The Plus Speech subscription for $9/year allows drivers to use natural language for safe and convenient control of phone, media and navigation features, as available.
VW owners and passengers no longer need to use up their mobile phone data for in-vehicle entertainment—they can currently purchase unlimited data through Verizon or T-Mobile for their car via Car-Net Hotspot. Adding a car to an existing Verizon or T-Mobile account is simple. Customers can visit carnet.vw.com or download the Car-Net mobile app to select their mobile wireless provider, verify their account and pair it with their existing Volkswagen Car-Net subscription in a matter of minutes.
“Carrier of Choice breaks down the barriers for connecting to Wi-Fi and meets customers where they are in their digital lifestyles,” claimed Frank Weith, Director of Connected Services at Volkswagen of America. “As consumers start driving more in a post-pandemic world, it creates a window of opportunity for drivers to customize their content and stream reliably.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
VW Starts Car-Net Carrier of Choice with Verizon and T-Mobile
Click to Enlarge.
Volkswagen of America will be offering through wireless providers Verizon and T-Mobile a so-called Carrier of Choice in late September. Volkswagen appears to be the first automaker working with both Verizon and T-Mobile to offer customers the choice from multiple wireless providers to enable Car-Net’s in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot.
In the fast-growing world of connected cars there remain large questions about anti-trust regulations and their application – if any has been attempted – to protect consumers from cartel or monopoly pricing. Car-Net, with in-car Wi-Fi capability when you subscribe to a data plan, is standard equipment on most 2020 model year and forward Volkswagen vehicles. The Carrier of Choice program will be available starting late September this year.
Car-Net Hotspot allows passengers to access the internet with up to four connected devices simultaneously, including compatible tablets, smartphones, laptops, gaming devices at a claimed 4G LTE-enabled speed. Verizon Wireless or T-Mobile customers with an existing mobile data plan can add their Volkswagen vehicle as a new line item to their existing monthly bill; non-Verizon or T-Mobile customers can set up an unlimited plan for $20/month, plus any applicable taxes and fees.
Starting with model year 2021, some VW vehicles equipped with MIB3 offer more infotainment features. With an active data plan, drivers can access iHeart Radio and TIDAL media streaming apps with a paid subscription. Additional subscriptions from Car-Net offer more: The Plus Nav subscription for $49/year gives drivers real-time traffic and route updates. The Plus Online Radio subscription for $8/year provides over 30,000 global radio stations. The Plus Speech subscription for $9/year allows drivers to use natural language for safe and convenient control of phone, media and navigation features, as available.
VW owners and passengers no longer need to use up their mobile phone data for in-vehicle entertainment—they can currently purchase unlimited data through Verizon or T-Mobile for their car via Car-Net Hotspot. Adding a car to an existing Verizon or T-Mobile account is simple. Customers can visit carnet.vw.com or download the Car-Net mobile app to select their mobile wireless provider, verify their account and pair it with their existing Volkswagen Car-Net subscription in a matter of minutes.
“Carrier of Choice breaks down the barriers for connecting to Wi-Fi and meets customers where they are in their digital lifestyles,” claimed Frank Weith, Director of Connected Services at Volkswagen of America. “As consumers start driving more in a post-pandemic world, it creates a window of opportunity for drivers to customize their content and stream reliably.”
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.