Chrysler confirms in-car Wi-Fi coming next year

Chrysler had vaguely said that it would be bringing in-car WiFi to its 2009 lineup, and but some more details have been released today: the system will be part of the next-gen UConnect system, feature a 3G-to-WiFi router hidden within the car and require a monthly subscription fee to use the service. Chrysler says the system will run at 600-800kbps down and 200kbps up, and should work with game consoles in vehicles with rear-seat monitors. It's still not clear whether Chrysler will run the service as its own MVNO or use another provider directly, but pricing is expected to be similar to WLAN PC cards, and there shouldn't be any long-term contracts involved. Alright, BMW, your move.

[Via TG Daily]

[iEye @ Jun 26th 2008 8:29AM]

"Alright, BMW, your move."

BMW group does not have to counter, because they do not make crap front wheel drive sissy cars. The car sells itself.

Chrysler on the other hand has resorted to mini ice box and other gadgets to sell its crap cars....

[rock99rock @ Jun 26th 2008 8:57AM]

Ok buddy.

No one is debating the awesomeness that is the BMW. All Nilay said, is it is time for BMW to follow through with their implementation of their in-car network.

Now go back to your hole and come out another day, so we can rant on you then.

Good DAY sir!

[bohsocks @ Jun 26th 2008 9:43AM]

Oh no he did-ent!

Uhhh wouldn't it just be cheaper to use a laptop with a wireless card in it or something?

That is unless you're using a desktop PC or intend on having a Halo 3 tournament in your car.....

Oh well... it's at least more practical than about 70% of the other stuff on this website I suppose

[happy_penguin @ Jun 26th 2008 11:23AM]

One of Chrysler's hottest products, the 300 is rear wheel drive and the Magnum engines with ratings up to 425 horsepower are hardly "sissy".

[From My Cube @ Jun 26th 2008 8:45AM]

Seriously, with game consoles? Do you really think Dad driving the van ( poor chap) wants to hear timmy swearing 10 racial slurs a minute and yelling noob hax when he dies?

[Zach @ Jun 26th 2008 10:30AM]

very true. as an xbox 360 owner (and/but a younger {16} more mature player/less experienced driver) i would NEVER bring a console into a car because it'd be SO distracting to anyone else on the road including the driver of that car (think about movies in the car in front of you. but 10 times better.) and with me getting my first car in less then a year, the LAST thing i want to hear in the car next to me is some small child (that could potentially get run over..) screaming over a game of COD.

anyway is 600 down (HAH, it's never that much is it..) and 200 up (..same applies) enough? that's probably only for stationary spots, and on top of that, switching towers could have a different effect on a game then browsing the internet.

anyone have any experience perhaps tethering a 3g phone with a console in a car?

[barrywoods @ Jun 26th 2008 8:47AM]

So in most states you can't use a cell phone while driving, but you can surf porn. Yea, that makes sense.

[Flashpoint @ Jun 26th 2008 9:14AM]

More importantly, YOUTUBE.

Now you'll be able to upload videos of spectacular shit happening without having to wait to get home.

Youtube recently became my home entertainment centerpiece on my PC and my iphone.

[rock99rock @ Jun 26th 2008 10:01AM]

Same goes for YOUPORN.

[michas_pi @ Jun 26th 2008 1:19PM]

BitTorrent...in the car.

Hell fucking yes.

[babuHillary @ Jul 7th 2008 7:19PM]

Good

[Flashpoint @ Jun 26th 2008 9:12AM]

I'm picturing a 2008 Chrysler 300 Long Wheel Base with rear tray tables and multiple 12V power jacks.

The new Town and Country had plenty of space as well as optional rear facing seats and a CARD TABLE so I guess a laptop would go well with that too.


As for that 600~800down / 200 up, I doubt that's enough for Xbox360/PS3. I was running that on home VERIZON DSL till I got FIOS (now i'm getting 16000kbps down/ 5000 kbps up).
My DSL was laggy as F*&% on games with no central servers that required high upload speed like Vegas, GoW and Quake 4 so I'm not extremely enthusiastic here. Running text and youtube videos shouldn't be a problem though.

[tiuk @ Jun 26th 2008 10:26AM]

It's not the bandwidth, it's the latency.

[project @ Jun 26th 2008 9:25AM]

dear chrysler,

how about you try and make your cars less shitty and more reliable and stop trying to distract us with your coolers in the floor and wifi

[happy_penguin @ Jun 26th 2008 11:28AM]

Dear project,

Chrysler's quality rating is above Porsche, Nissan, Mazda, Volkwagen, and Saab, among others. I guess they all build shit too.

[ginnal @ Jun 26th 2008 1:46PM]

Too bad they are ugly pieces of crap.

[bohsocks @ Jun 26th 2008 9:45AM]

Hundreds of husbands who get kicked out of the house by their wives and have to spend the night in their car are shouting their disapproval.

Okay, dozens.

[BratPAQ @ Jun 26th 2008 10:10AM]

the only practical reason why would they want 3G-to-wifi is if there are more than one connection to the internet needed

[John Mason @ Jun 26th 2008 11:08AM]

Looks like I'm getting a Chrysler hybrid thingy next. I guess there is something to be said for the company ownership change. These guys will do anything to sell some cars! So their crap; you get what you pay for! Buy it new with a bunch of cool stuff and then sell it when the warranty is up. I'd hate to be the poor schmuck who buys used. I hope Chrysler can salvage some of their rep and make some sort of comeback. We could use the jobs!

[Wayne @ Jun 26th 2008 11:09AM]

They better disable wi-fi unless someone is sitting in another seat (similar to the way the passenger side airbags work).

[Dave T. @ Jun 26th 2008 11:37AM]

Um,
Engadget, your numbers are wrong. Check out Chrysler's media page.
This goes on sale in August.
And as far as I know a wireless laptop card will be faster and can act as a wireless hotspot right?
This will also cost $449 for the router and $30 a month.
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2008/06/uconnect.html

[apeguero @ Jun 26th 2008 12:19PM]

It'd be nice if they could include a lifetime membership on this instead of giving those that chose the service another monthly bill to pay.

[ksat @ Jun 26th 2008 1:14PM]

Will I be able to copy over my MP3's from my wireless home network when I'm parked in my garage into my car? This is a must...it's a logical connection.

[PeterF @ Jun 26th 2008 1:18PM]

LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAG I hope no one tries to use this to play on Live, its bad enough!

[BDamon @ Jun 26th 2008 2:06PM]

Happy_penqun.

Please cite your source.
I just checked JD Power, all the Chrysler brands are at the bottom of the rankings.

http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings/quality-ratings-by-brand

[happy_penguin @ Jun 27th 2008 2:31AM]

You're citing initial quality index. Check the more meaningful long term reliability:

http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pressrelease.aspx?ID=2007130

[Logan Renz @ Jun 26th 2008 1:41PM]

There must be a partnership with some network. There is no way that I am going to pay for TWO 3G connections.

What I am waiting for is for someone to make a dash that I can pop my iPhone/Touch into and use that as my stereo.

Regards,
Logan Renz

[Pepsipoint @ Jun 26th 2008 4:13PM]

eh. can't get a car to run on anything but gas but we sure as hell have wifi in the car. i'm excited that i can surf for porn while paying 12 dollars a gallon.

[Jose Z. @ Jun 27th 2008 7:25AM]

The Chrysler Logo is missing the Registered Trademark symbol on the bottom right hand side of the badge before the wings.

[Uconnectweb @ Jun 28th 2008 1:06PM]

Awesome! I've been keenly interested in this new emerging technology since I've first watched it on foxnews channel. I'm seeing a great potential for this technology which can probably drive Chrysler's sales for 2009. Also, I'm predicting this will be the trend and most other car companies will follow suit and would not dare leave themselves behind on this.

I'm carefully watching the developments from here on and I've actually started a blog dedicated to this as well. The blog is http://www.uconnectwebsite.com

[babuHillary @ Jun 30th 2008 7:05AM]

It is useful provided publishing the operations,priceing and other details.

[babuHillary @ Jul 6th 2008 9:18PM]

Good service for those who are mobile in the rear seat.
Babu Hillary

[babuHillary @ Jul 7th 2008 7:17PM]

Good.

[babuHillary @ Jul 7th 2008 7:27PM]

It is very good and the language is simple too.