Audi A8 Gets Factory Integrated Mobile Hotspot

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."

Comments

Wardriving

[Netshroud]

You're doing it wrong.

Why not

[maroberts]

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)?

Re:Why not

[Vectormatic]

*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.

Re:Connected to what?

[Zocalo]

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.

Something I don't understand

[zebslash]

[...]enabling passengers to connect to the vehicle's network without affecting the battery life of their connected devices.

Can someone explain this? or is it just marketing bs? As far as I know, the battery life of the devices that are connected to some access point or router is not affected by the nature of the router. The fact it uses low power components is important for the car's battery (or fuel consumption), not for the attached device! Or am I missing something?

Re:Something I don't understand

[dave420]

Data radios in gadgets usually ramp up their power if the signal they receive from whatever they are connecting to is very weak, causing massive battery drain. That's why a cellphone in a busy city (with a strong signal from the many close cell towers) will last considerably longer than a phone in an area with very weak service. I guess if they fit their antennas in a sensible manner (ie not blocking the signal with chunks of metal and lots of leaky wires), they'll be able to bathe the inside of the cabin with sweet, sweet radio waves, allowing all the devices in the car to essentially whisper to each other.

Re:Tethering

[moosesocks]

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.

Re:Tethering

[SydShamino]

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

No they aren't. It's a $76,000 (base price) car. I drive a $77,000 (base price; $95,000 as built) car, bought as second owner for $35,000, and I sure as hell couldn't afford someone to drive me around. http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2004/03/22/185936.html

For a car with a driver, you should be looking at the Rolls Royce Phantom or similar. Those start around $380,000.