Add your car to your shared data plan: Audi and Tesla partner with AT&T for the 'first ever in-vehicle 4G LTE'
This year's CES show in Las Vegas seems to be revolving around a few main trends, like wearables and smart connected cars, so the partnership announcements between Audi, Tesla and AT&T shouldn't come as a surprise. What counts as one, however, is that Audi and Tesla are preparing to outfit all of their models with 4G LTE connectivity.
The "first-ever in-vehicle 4G LTE data connection" will arrive in the new 2015 Audi A3 line, and gradually roll out to the other new Audis, and the models of electric car maker Tesla, too. You'll be able to add your car to your Mobile Share data plan (yep), just like you add phones and tablets, which Audi will use for services like "picture navigation, read-aloud news headlines, Facebook and Twitter alerts; access to more than 7,000 Web radio stations; personalized RSS news feeds, and more."
“With the introduction of the new A3 family Audi is putting the most advanced technology into the compact luxury segment,” said Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America. “Offering drivers a 4G LTE connection will provide the fastest in-vehicle connection available and significantly enhance the infotainment experience.”
“AT&T has the nation’s fastest and most reliable LTE network* and this new relationship with Audi allows us to drastically improve the in-car experience,” said Glenn Lurie, President, AT&T Emerging Enterprises and Partnerships Organization. “It’s exciting to think about the Audi A3 family of cars throughout the U.S. running 4G LTE-powered wireless hotspots and more through Audi connect.”
Audi will add convenience by becoming the first automaker to offer a Mobile Share data plan option to AT&T wireless customers who would like to add their vehicle to their existing smartphone or tablet data plan.
Audi plans to roll out 4G LTE capability across its entire lineup as new or refreshed models come to the market. AT&T has the fastest and now most reliable 4G LTE network.* And AT&T was named America’s fastest 4G LTE network in PC Magazine’s 2013 Fastest Mobile Networks 30-market study – and also swept the top rankings in all six U.S. regions from coast to coast: Northeast, Southeast, North-Central, South-Central, Northwest and Southwest.
The new A3 family will feature the most advanced version of Audi connect including picture navigation, read-aloud news headlines, Facebook and Twitter alerts; access to more than 7,000 Web radio stations; personalized RSS news feeds, and more.
DALLAS, Jan. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T*, the leader in connected cars, and Tesla, the premier all-electric vehicle manufacturer, have entered into a new multi-year exclusive agreement to enable current and future Tesla vehicles in North America with high speed wireless connectivity. AT&T connectivity will power Tesla's remote engine diagnostics, telematics, and industry-leading infotainment features such as Internet radio, Web browsing, live traffic, weather and navigation, all accessed through the 17-inch touchscreen.
"It's an honor to work with a company as innovative as Tesla on delivering a connected experience inside automobiles for both drivers and passengers," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility.
"Tesla's goal has always been to catalyze the market for electric vehicles for all consumers while providing an exceptional driving experience," said Elon Musk, co-founder and CEO of Tesla. "AT&T's advanced and reliable wireless connectivity will help Tesla continue to deliver a cutting-edge ownership experience."
In addition, AT&T announced yesterday two major initiatives to lead innovation in the connected car market – a first-of-its-kind connected car innovation center in Atlanta, called the AT&T Drive Studio, and a new global automotive solution and development platform, now called AT&T Drive.
AT&T Drive Studio features a working lab, showroom to build and exhibit the latest innovations, and serves as an overall hub where AT&T can work hand in hand with companies and respond to opportunities presented by automotive manufacturers.
AT&T Drive is the company's connected car platform – a modular and flexible, global solution that allows automakers to pick and choose what services and capabilities are important to them and allows them to differentiate their solutions in the marketplace. From connectivity and billing solutions to data analytics and infotainment, this platform will allow auto makers and developers to develop their own innovative and customized connected car solutions, now and in the future.
As a telematics leader, AT&T already provides mobile internet access in vehicles manufactured by both domestic and foreign automobile makers. AT&T was the first to enter the market with a proprietary, global SIM platform which made it possible for automotive, consumer and M2M equipment makers to work through a single carrier to wirelessly enable and connect products across the globe, and cars are being sold throughout world today with this SIM.
For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T │DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/aboutus or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.
"It's an honor to work with a company as innovative as Tesla on delivering a connected experience inside automobiles for both drivers and passengers," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility.
"Tesla's goal has always been to catalyze the market for electric vehicles for all consumers while providing an exceptional driving experience," said Elon Musk, co-founder and CEO of Tesla. "AT&T's advanced and reliable wireless connectivity will help Tesla continue to deliver a cutting-edge ownership experience."
In addition, AT&T announced yesterday two major initiatives to lead innovation in the connected car market – a first-of-its-kind connected car innovation center in Atlanta, called the AT&T Drive Studio, and a new global automotive solution and development platform, now called AT&T Drive.
AT&T Drive Studio features a working lab, showroom to build and exhibit the latest innovations, and serves as an overall hub where AT&T can work hand in hand with companies and respond to opportunities presented by automotive manufacturers.
AT&T Drive is the company's connected car platform – a modular and flexible, global solution that allows automakers to pick and choose what services and capabilities are important to them and allows them to differentiate their solutions in the marketplace. From connectivity and billing solutions to data analytics and infotainment, this platform will allow auto makers and developers to develop their own innovative and customized connected car solutions, now and in the future.
As a telematics leader, AT&T already provides mobile internet access in vehicles manufactured by both domestic and foreign automobile makers. AT&T was the first to enter the market with a proprietary, global SIM platform which made it possible for automotive, consumer and M2M equipment makers to work through a single carrier to wirelessly enable and connect products across the globe, and cars are being sold throughout world today with this SIM.
For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) is a premier communications holding company and one of the most honored companies in the world. Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are the providers of AT&T services in the United States and internationally. With a powerful array of network resources, AT&T is a leading provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. A leader in mobile Internet, AT&T also offers the best wireless coverage worldwide of any U.S. carrier, offering the most wireless phones that work in the most countries. It also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verse® and AT&T │DIRECTV brands. The company's suite of IP-based business communications services is one of the most advanced in the world.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is available at http://www.att.com/aboutus or follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.
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