T-Mobile USA announced a new data plan specifically for Audi drivers that use the company's Connect service. The plan, which is offered to new and existing owners of cars equipped with Audi Connect, allows owners to pay $ 450 for data services for 30 months, which equals $ 15 per month, or pay $ 30 per month if they select the month-to-month option.
Audi Connect service lets users access real-time news, weather and fuel prices. In addition, it lets drivers connect to Google Earth and Google Voice. The service also provides Wi-Fi service throughout the vehicle for up to eight devices.
Audi has been aggressive in its connected car efforts. The company was the first to offer in-vehicle Wi-Fi connectivity when it launched Audi Connect in 2011. Audi plans to have 1 million connected Audi vehicles worldwide by 2015.
Further, the overall connected car space is becoming a lot more competitive. In February, General Motors announced it will replace Verizon Wireless' (NYSE:VZ) service with AT&T Mobility's (NYSE:T) service in its OnStar offering beginning in 2014. At that time, GM will incorporate LTE into most of its vehicles.
Mary Chan, vice president of global connected consumer for GM, told FierceWireless that one of the reasons the company selected AT&T was that it wanted a partner that would offer flexibility in terms of pricing models. Although GM has not revealed how it will price its LTE-powered OnStar service, Chan said the company is looking at different pricing structures across several tiers. For example, a driver could pay one price to receive remote diagnostics for their car and then pay a different price if they want additional options.
For more:
- see this release
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