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Audi A8 Gets Factory Integrated Mobile Hotspot

Posted by samzenpus on from the drive-and-surf dept.

adeelarshad82 writes "Audi's A8 luxury sedan will be the first vehicle with a factory integrated mobile hotspot when it ships this fall with an adapter capable of connecting up to eight devices via WiFi or Bluetooth. Audi integrates a WLAN module and antenna on the roof, using technology from chip-maker Marvell and Harman Automotive. The company says its WiFi software architecture is optimized for extremely low power consumption on battery-powered consumer electronics, enabling passengers to connect to the vehicle's network without affecting the battery life of their connected devices. The Audi system, called the Marvell Mobile Hotspot, will support any combination of smartphones, tablets, laptops, digital cameras, and gaming devices."

8 of 126 comments (clear)

  1. Why not by maroberts · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Have USB outlets in the car, into which you can plug in your devices, making them free from interception/hacking, giving power to the devices and thus saving on the battery power of the device and (tongue in cheek)not broadcasting harmful radio waves which can make your head explode(/tongue in cheek)?

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    1. Re:Why not by Vectormatic · · Score: 4, Insightful

      *five years into the future*

      CxO#1: damn, i wish audi would get their shit together and write a driver for my A8, so i can use it with my windows 8 laptop...
      CxO#2: oh, you went with the USB option? My A8 has the wifi hotspot, my kids love playing with their DS through nintendo-online on long trips you know? and my laptop also works flawlessly.

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      People, what a bunch of bastards
    2. Re:Why not by tepples · · Score: 2, Insightful

      connections for tethering and storage over usb are fairly standard

      But there are still a lot of devices that support Wi-Fi but not tethering, such as the Nintendo DS family.

  2. Connected to what? by Haedrian · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Connected to the overly-expensive cellular internet?

    I don't see much use, especially at the prices you pay for that. Allright maybe if you have one subscription and you want to use your mobile AND your laptop at the same time - but at the price you pay for the connection, is it worth it?

    1. Re:Connected to what? by Zocalo · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I don't think the kind of people that buy an Audi R8 are going to be all that concerned about cellular costs, which in any event might be negligible depending on their country of residence. Everyone that I know who owns a car comparable to an A8 either has at least one other vehicle for more mundane use like shopping, taking the kids to school etc., or is quite well paid and single.

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  3. And? by RMH101 · · Score: 1, Insightful

    If I go and buy a Mifi and a 12v cigarette lighter to usb cable, I could wire it in behind the dash myself in 10 minutes.

  4. Re:Tethering by moosesocks · · Score: 4, Insightful

    People with an Audi A8 are most likely to be driven around by a driver, while sitting in the back with their laptop

    It's a very expensive car, but not necessarily I-can-afford-a-chauffeur-expensive.

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    -- If you try to fail and succeed, which have you done? - Uli's moose
  5. Re:Tethering by Buelldozer · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Well, that's your opinion and since it's just that, an opinion, it's difficult for me to argue or agree with you.