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Fiat Joins Microsoft in a Wireless Partnership
bizpile writes "The AP is reporting that Microsoft and Fiat have gotten together to develop a system of wireless communications into Fiat's vehicles. The goal of the alliance, announced Thursday, is to create a flexible, easy-to-use telematics system (think OnStar from General Motors) for Fiat and its Lancia and Alfa Romeo brands sold in Europe, the companies said."
Fiat's electrics are reknowned for being dodgy at best (I own two so I should know ;o) )
. Imagine driving a car with Fiat electrics and MS comms...recipe for disaster?! :op
--Sarah
i've never owned a Fiat, but know some people who did. One of them complained that his windows would open all of themselves every now and then (when driving on a highway in winter). Another had Alfa Romeo (same concern I believe) which almost always blew it's headlights when you turned then on. So indeed, crappy electrical wiring...
Despite what you may think, Onstar is not a General Motors product. It was simply their idea, which they then outsourced to none other than Motorola. Although most people don't know it, Onstar is completely built, designed and tested by Motorola. The only part of Onstar they don't run is the call center.
1. ABS
2. Fuel Injection
3. Engine timing
4. Automatic Transmission (or ratios in stick models)
5. Airbag deployment
6. Cruise control
7. Door locks
And before you mod me down for being a paranoid tinfoil-hatted troll read about the Phillipine minister who was trapped in his BMW that refused to unlock and let him out? The HAL-in-a-car was very likely a Microsoft Telematic system.
They can mess all they want with the radio - I'll be switching it off listening to my iPoD anyway :)
See that long UID - that's what you get for lurking too long
Bullshit, due to circumstances I happen to drive a 2004 Mercedes C200 CDI for 2 weeks, and I can tell you my mobile phone is quite at home in it's Bluetooth enviroment :)
... Too bad tho that what's going to be implemented into the newer models will come from Microsoft and have nothing to do with accessing the car from the outside for consumers, but merely allowing service people and the likes to easily diagnose car problems without the need to take a few seconds extra to hook it up to a machine instead.
Back to On-Topic:
And as my own car is a 2004 Alfa Romeo 156, I wish it had some integrated way of connecting my phone
Veni, Vidi, Velcro!
I DO own a Fiat (this one, Seicento SX).
This car performs very well for such a small engine (non-diesel 1.1cc, 55HP), I never had an engine problem (45k kilometers so far), the electric system performs well, though I had to replace the default front lights (the short ones, dunno how to say that in english) due to low intensity. I have several extras: electric windows, centralized lock, ABS, AC, 2 airbags, mp3 radio car and so.
I cannot speak about engine overheating, since it has no temp meter, but never noticed anything wrong when driving with high temp outside (I live in Seville, Spain, we have HUGE temperatures on summer).
Cannot speak about other models, but I never had a single problem with this little car, I am happy with it since I do mostly city driving (though I did some large trips with it).
Your head a splode