http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/ Engadget Comments for GM to offer $500 Autonet Mobile WiFi option in select vehicles http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/
That's what I would do...]]>Oct 28th 2009 8:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 28th 2009 8:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 28th 2009 8:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/mifi or phone tethering make a whole lotta sense.]]>Oct 28th 2009 10:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/
If you are in a Clear 4G WiMax area, your modem will eat this expensive piece of crap for lunch!]]>Oct 28th 2009 11:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 29th 2009 9:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 28th 2009 8:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 28th 2009 8:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/-The lower the power, the safer you are.
-The farther away from it, the safer you are.

Routers are low-power things, and are generally not right next to your skin.
Wifi in laptops is low-power.
Both are anywhere between 20mW and 500mW.

An amateur radio handy-talkie or commercial walkie-talkie runs from 1W to 5W (6W if you're lucky). Antennas for these are usually an inch or two farther away from your head than a cell phone antenna, and sometimes people will use a corded microphone to help keep it even farther away from their heads.

Microwaves... I'm not even going into. Suffice it to say I don't stand next to the microwave while it's in use. Try talking on a 2.4Ghz phone or using a 2.4Ghz wireless headset next to a microwave. It's NOT pleasant.
As to what Shane said, "The real risk from NIER is heating of tissue. As long as tissue heating is not occurring, the risk is generally regarded to be low." The microwave's raison-d'etre is to heat things up, and it uses energy at 2.4Ghz to do it. So it's one of the exeptions to the "Safe to put against your ear" list...

So if you live beside an FM radio tower transmitting at 10,000W into the antenna, or hang out infront of a multi-megawatt RADAR unit to keep warm in winter... Find a new hobby :) Otherwise, you're probably OK. But as with anything, moderation is key.]]>Oct 28th 2009 9:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 28th 2009 9:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 28th 2009 8:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/
I doubt this thing is gonna hurt you.
]]>Oct 28th 2009 8:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 28th 2009 8:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 28th 2009 8:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/but i have been doing this for three years when i was on sprint with my Moto Q's and Razr's. I would tether them, enable Internet Connection Sharing, and then turn my laptop into a wireless Ad-Hoc Router. I still dont understand the need for the Mifi, but obviously the need escapes me. I was able to Travel from St Louis Mo to St Paul Minn on Amtrak with close to 2MB all the way. Every one in my car with a computer could get on the net.]]>Oct 28th 2009 8:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 28th 2009 8:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 28th 2009 8:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 28th 2009 8:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/
For example, if I purchase this, my total cost for two years (29 x12 = $348) + $500 equals $848. If I buy a 3G enabled network data plan from ATT/Verizon/Sprint at $60 per month, my cost over two years is $1440. I realize the network plan offers greater freedom and flexibility, but that's a huge price difference.

Oh that's right.........ATT AND THE REST ARE RAPING US ON DATA PLAN CHARGES!]]>Oct 28th 2009 8:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/
29x24 + 499 = 1195.

Also, that $29 plan is bogus - it only includes 250MB transfer. Their 5GB plan is $59.95, putting it way more in line with all other operators. Verizon and Sprint offer similar cheap plans with low transfer limits.

You can even buy a MiFi from Verizon with the 250MB plan.]]>Oct 28th 2009 9:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 28th 2009 9:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 28th 2009 9:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 28th 2009 9:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 29th 2009 10:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/
1) You always go through a "don't surf and drive" warning web page on it. You can disable that on a MAC level, but that means you need to edit the list any time you want to use it with a PSP, DS or other device with a bad browser (or no browser). New device in the car? Get out the laptop so you can add the MAC address to the "stop bugging me" list.

2) Only supports WEP encryption

3) Speeds suck. I get 1.5-3MB/s on Sprint and Verizon here. At the same location, the Autonet router only gets about 600KB/s

4) Hardware is clunky - there is no reason the box has to be this big, other than making you feel you got value for money
]]>Oct 28th 2009 9:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/
You can buy these direct for $199 so why would I think I need GM to dealer install for $499? I'm sure GM is getting a kick-back from AutoNet for a subscriber so why would they discount it to get you to buy their car? Maybe those GM execs are so rich they don't understand how the cell phone market works



]]>Oct 28th 2009 9:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 28th 2009 9:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/
http://www.autonetmobile.com/service/coverage-map.html]]>Oct 28th 2009 9:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 29th 2009 7:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 28th 2009 11:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/
It's not like you have several people using laptops in there at the same time. And if you only have one person with a laptop in the car he can just plug his phone in via USB, he has no need for a WiFi. Or alternatively if he really wants to have wifi he can buy any 3G WiFi router on the market at a fraction of this ridiculous price.]]>Oct 29th 2009 7:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 29th 2009 3:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 29th 2009 6:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 29th 2009 7:45AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/
This is def. one thing I am excited to see. But not too excited because I wouldn't use it. ]]>Oct 29th 2009 8:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/Oct 29th 2009 10:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/28/gm-to-offer-500-autonet-mobile-wifi-option-in-select-vehicles/
The technology that autonet uses is patented for a reason .. and is the only auto industry certified product for a reason. This technology will be what takes us all to the next level… MiFi will be obsolete in a year.

When this thing is syncing with your home pc… transferring music and movies to your car.. allowing you to pay for gas without getting out of your vehicle… and also giving you a non interrupted internet connection so you can play poker online from the backseat or make a skype call with video .. it will dawn on all of us the other possibilities.

Also, the flat $29 a month is WAY less than a cell card or a MiFI .. which your bill will be anywhere from $60 – $100 per month … depending upon lots of factors.

As for them cutting you off at 1 gig… check your facts .. I heard that because the technology they use does not drop connection .. you don’t end up paying for data that you lost… so you never actually go over a gig.. and if you do … they don’t care… because almost nobody goes over as it's only used in the car.
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