Walt Mossberg reviews Autonet: spotty, but still distracting enough to be dangerous

Chrysler's in-car WiFi, Autonet Mobile, has been around for a little while now, and Walt Mossberg has helpfully reviewed it for us. He found the service (which is basically an in-car 3G WiFi router) to be great for email and basic web surfing, but it was too slow to handle anything much more demanding, like streaming videos. Speed test results ranged from 100 kbps to 500 kbps, with an average of 400-450 kbps... pretty average for 3G speeds, and Walt says the connection never dropped. On the plus side, it appears that Chrysler is willing to mount the ruggedized router in the trunk of any car -- not just their models -- which is great news if, like most people, you have no intention of driving a Chrysler around. The Autonet box runs $499 ($399 for the holidays) with a one-year contract and monthly fees of about $29. That may seem expensive, but can you put a price on your kids checking Facebook rather than asking "Are we there yet" every twelve seconds? Hit the read link for the full review.

[Akio @ Nov 13th 2008 7:49PM]

So we're fairly safe until we get to higher speeds, then we'll see more accidents due to higher quality videos of 2girls1cup being played while driving.

[nanobis @ Nov 13th 2008 7:51PM]

It not even ther now is tapgirl.

[Ghen @ Nov 13th 2008 8:52PM]

I'd point my screen out the window and poison the world

[nanobis @ Nov 13th 2008 7:53PM]

This is great, i just wish i had some one to drive for me, so i could use this.

Tho, ill defenatly check this out when get better speeds.

[lowdef @ Nov 13th 2008 7:54PM]

cum again nanobis?

[From My Cube @ Nov 13th 2008 8:30PM]

he must be trying it out in his car right now...that would explain the un-ledge-ah-bill-a-tea

[Mobius_1 @ Nov 13th 2008 7:56PM]

Hey, if the car business of Chrysler fails (which it might) then at least they have a pretty decent other product to sell.

[intrglctcrevfnk @ Nov 13th 2008 7:58PM]

it's all good till it falls back to EDGE and the kiddies cry about how long facebook is taking to load up!
Porn on EDGE is unacceptable too. Great for truckers tho.
@akio- you just brought back some old memories... I still think it was pastacio ice cream....

[BJ is Gooder @ Nov 13th 2008 8:06PM]

I'm mentally prepared to be low ranked for this...blah I say!

This is a STUPID IDEA! Anyone dumb enough to pay for this 'upgrade' is dumber than an idiotic dumbo.

[mvp @ Nov 13th 2008 8:10PM]

I only down ranked you because of this line "dumber than an idiotic dumbo."

[BJ is Gooder @ Nov 13th 2008 8:15PM]

Then you are dumber than an idiotic dumbo. Hmph.

[OCEAN 'CLAK' 20th @ Nov 13th 2008 8:20PM]

'i' dont see the point of it my 3g iphone dose everything without that ugly thing, for me ill just sit in the car stroking my iphone

[Matthew Haber @ Nov 13th 2008 8:31PM]

Um is "iphone" a code word for something? Really though, the iphone isn't even close to as useful as a laptop.

[CraigJ @ Nov 13th 2008 9:11PM]

depends on what your primary in car use would be. I typically don't write code or play Flight Simulator while driving, but if that's the way you roll let me know so I can stay home.

[El Taco @ Nov 13th 2008 9:23PM]

Can a laptop receive calls???

o wait...

[noyp @ Nov 13th 2008 9:42PM]

Skype. But, it's kind of inconvenient to carry a laptop around with you everywhere.

[KAIKAI @ Nov 13th 2008 9:46PM]

@noyp


*cough* netbook *cough*

[Shakapooi @ Nov 13th 2008 8:41PM]

Sorry GM but I'm already doing this with my Sprint 3G Windows Mobile phone and WMWifiRouter software. Matter of fact I'm typing this on a moving NYC bus on an iPod Touch on wifi via my HTC Touch Pro.

[ghandi2000 @ Nov 13th 2008 8:43PM]

freak, no offense.

[intrglctcrevfnk @ Nov 13th 2008 8:46PM]

WMWiFiRouter was one of the best pieces of program written for WinMo in my opinion. Due to Pocket IE's crappy browser, getting on the laptop while on the road was much more appealing.

[CraigJ @ Nov 13th 2008 9:12PM]

GM is sorry, no doubt. Especially since this is a Chrysler product...

[Valicore @ Nov 13th 2008 10:01PM]

WMWifiRouter really is awesome.

[XIYL @ Nov 14th 2008 6:00AM]

Yeah but he has a Touch Pro and he's using an iTouch with it. That is probably one of the weirdest and wasteful things I have ever heard (especially battery life). On topic(ish) WMWifiRouter is an excellent program.

[Fusion Fuzo @ Nov 13th 2008 8:49PM]

who buys this crap, I use my asus netbook with a bluetooth phone for surfing the web, no need for useless gadgets.

[Fusion Fuzo @ Nov 13th 2008 9:04PM]

In fact I would rather put my windows 95 computer with 300mz processor, 32mb ram, 1.4 gb hard drive, separate tower, CRT display in the car connected to my phone, and use that, Instead of using a crappy 17inch laptop and that crappy router thing, I tell you now all the chicks will jump in the car with me im a proffessianal.

[intrglctcrevfnk @ Nov 13th 2008 9:29PM]

I would take my old 486 computer with 4MB of ram, hit the TURBO button and watch the inerwebs fly by as the math co-processor churns away on DOS 6.0 and I have to
cd /win and then win.exe
Oh yeah and a 2400 baud modem! Times have changed..,,.

[ghandi2000 @ Nov 14th 2008 3:52AM]

my girlfriend loves professianals!
and i love antique pc components!
can we meet?

[dbasner @ Nov 16th 2008 9:26PM]

I have a question, what is the cheapest, unlimited data cellphone plan, i want to buy a crappy phone, but use it for tethering, oh and it needs ot have the ability to tether, obviously

[htd @ Nov 13th 2008 9:46PM]

cellphone + data plan + tethering...

[nak @ Nov 13th 2008 10:53PM]

I can think of a lot better applications for this than a car.

Mall kiosks, convention floors, etc. Temporary locations where you need internet, can't wait on a physical line to be installed and where you probably pay exorbitant rates to use site/facility provided WiFi.

Tethering isn't always an option too. Your hires may simply not be sophisticated enough to keep it up, or you need something dedicated but low speed, or paying for a voice line in addition to a data line isn't in the budget.

[baaadandy @ Nov 13th 2008 11:28PM]

If you go to their webpage, the $29.99/mo. plan only includes 1GB of data transfer, and if you "upgrade" to the $59.99/mo. plan you get 5GB of data. YEEEEEEESSSSS!!!! WOOOHOOO!!!! Rip. Off. Tethering FTW.

BTW Engadget please update your posting to reflect this info.

[avirji @ Nov 13th 2008 11:35PM]

I'm surprised he didn't say the iPhone performed better in terms of "3G performance" ... I mean, it's the Mossberg (anything-that-is-not-better-than-Apple-sucks-and-if-it's-not-we-all-die) guy

[That Fender Strat Guy @ Nov 14th 2008 12:37AM]

I love the crappy 'wifi waves' pattern on the top.

[Brad @ Nov 14th 2008 8:47AM]

I also have had something very similar to this for about two months now. Here in .au Telstra provide the fastest HSDPA network with the widest coverage. The good thing about this is for my work I always have 7.2Mbps download speeds (real world range anything up to about 6Mbps) - plus my iPhone and laptop in the car can use this connection without even thinking.

I use a Netcomm wireless router via a 12v adapter with a Sierra Wireless module inside which gives brilliant speeds. The cost is the downside, paying $AU89 for 5GB. But it covers 2 Million square kilometres.

[G @ Nov 14th 2008 10:39AM]

$399-$499 for this, are they crazy? I can use my phone as a 3G WiFi router for free.

[Ben @ Nov 14th 2008 10:07AM]

serioulsy people??? Cradlepoint PHS-300 + usb modem from carrier of your choice. completely makes this obsolete. i have one... use it with ATT and Verizon. Put the crack down.

[preston @ Nov 14th 2008 11:09AM]

Uhhhh.... save yourself a few hundred bucks with a 3g phoebus ($218) and a car adapter ($39).

http://sewelldirect.com/3g-phoebus-cellular-wi-fi-router.asp

[G @ Nov 14th 2008 11:33AM]

Or you could save a few hundred more and get this: http://www.joikushop.com/?action=products&mode=productDetails&product_id=33

15.00 EUR


but do you REALLY need wireless in your car?

[Mindstrike @ Nov 15th 2008 11:21AM]

Will it be able to play some mmo games we know about? Long road trips could be uber easier to do time just "flying" away?

30 a month would be worth it to me.. not sure what some games need for good up/down speeds.

[Clark Cox @ Nov 14th 2008 5:12PM]

I know that WoW works fine over a 3G connection. A great way to pass the time on long train rides.