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GM Sees a Market For $5/Day Dedicated In-Car Internet

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

An anonymous reader writes "$5 doesn't sound like much for a day of internet service in some contexts: it's less than you might pay for it in-flight, and less than a few espresso drinks if you're lured in by a coffee shop's Wi-Fi service. But not all internet service is created equal; would you pay $5 for a month of in-car internet service if it meant a 200-meg cap, which is (only) 'enough to stream more than 6.5 hours of music?' That's where a new dedicated Internet service from GM starts (also at the WSJ, paywalled), and it's $10 for drivers who aren't also OnStar subscribers. Probably a more likely option for the occasional road trip, though, is $5 per day service (no OnStar requirement) for 250MB of data. Why wouldn't someone just use a smartphone with a data plan, or a dedicated hotspot device? GM thinks they'll be drawn to 'a powerful antenna that's stronger than that of a smartphone, along with a Wi-Fi hotspot that operates without draining a mobile device's battery. That hotspot is on any time the car is on.'"

6 of 216 comments (clear)

  1. "GM thinks" there's your problem. by nospam007 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "GM thinks they'll be drawn to 'a powerful antenna that's stronger than that of a smartphone, along with a Wi-Fi hotspot that operates without draining a mobile device's battery. That hotspot is on any time the car is on.'

    My car also has a 'powerful antenna' for my cellphone and my phone has a Wifi-hotspot and it also doesn't drain the mobile's battery because by cellphone is in its socket and powered by the car battery. I pay 5 bucks a month for unlimited usage already.

    We should we pay twice?

    1. Re:"GM thinks" there's your problem. by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 4, Insightful

      GM got bailed out by the government because it was "too big to fail." Guess what? GM is still "too big to fail."

      They can go ahead and try out any screwball idea they want. If it loses money . . . the government will pick up the tab.

      It's sort of like a venture capital investment operation . . . except the taxpayers get stuck with the losses, and none of the rewards.

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    2. Re:"GM thinks" there's your problem. by TigerTime · · Score: 4, Insightful

      How about this: They provide BOTH options and we'll see which one is more popular in 2 years.

      Whichever car company makes it easy for my phone to be the brains of the entertainment system, and their screen just be a dumb terminal for my phone's data will get to sell me a new car.

    3. Re:"GM thinks" there's your problem. by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Privatize profits, socialize losses.

      Capitalism and communism, finally united in harmony.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  2. Still stuck in an analogue thinking pattern by faffod · · Score: 4, Insightful

    When everything was analogue, you needed a custom device for each service (phone, TV, fax, etc). In the digital era that way of thinking is as archaic as the dinosaur. I do not want an internet connection that might be slightly better than my current phone, only to be left in the dust in a couple of years. I want a system that allows me to add my phone's internet the car seamlessly.
    Yes someone is monetizing my mobile internet; no that doesn't mean that I want everyone monetizing it over and over again.

  3. Re:My honest response to $5/day for 250MB by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You'll pay for it. Either now or with the next bailout when that bomb drops.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.