Bringing Wi-Fi To The Highway
By Richard Hart
Apr. 8 - The first Internet cars are beginning to appear on Bay Area roads: Min- vans with Web video playing in the back seat, and SUVs sharing traffic advice with each other. Your car could have its own email address. The Information Highway is merging onto the real highway.
Yes, I'm on the beach. And yes, I'm logged on. And, no, there isn't an Internet cafe in sight. My wi-fi hotspot is right here. It's the car.
In the trunk is a wireless modem made by startup company AutoNet, an Internet Service Provider for cars. Kids in the back seat can watch video streaming from back home, no DVD required.
Sterling Pratz/AutoNet: "We found that people get tired of watching the same DVD over and over. What they want is full Internet access in the car."
Sure, you can put a card inside your mobile device to get on the network, but that's only one user at a time. This is truly a network. Everybody on the bus can be on at the same time. It's a router.
Now, add satellite access, and you get the first Internet-connected GPS for cars: Dash Express.
It's not much heavier than a folded map. There is only one wire. You plug it into the dash, it lights up, and begins to look for the best network around. That could be wi-fi, it could be cellular.
Then it begins to download information from the Dash server -- traffic information, maps, or an address you sent it from you desk.
Instead of printing a map, you virtually e-mail your plans to the car.
It figures out alternate routes, sharing traffic information from a half dozen sources, including other cars. Yes, a car stuck in traffic can send a warning for a car 10 miles back.
Eric Klein, Dash Navigation: "So, we're literally talking traffic by the seconds, not by the minutes anymore. Let's see what gas prices are. This station appears to be lowest... We can see what movies are playing nearby... The next step might be you buy your tickets in the car."
Both services are by subscription. Now, instead of asking, "Are we there yet?", kids will ask, "Are we on yet?"
Links:
Subscription prices are not final yet for either technology. We calculate eventually $15-30 a month. Beginning April 20th, SFO becomes the first location to rent AutoNet cars.
If you'd like to participate in a trial of the Dash navigation units, you'll find a link here: www.dash.net
AutoNet Mobile, Internet Service Provider that turns Vehicles into Wi-Fi Hotspots:
LINK: www.goautonet.com
Available: July 2007
Price: $399. Monthly service fee is to be determined.
To Order: www.autonetmobile.com
AVIS Introducing Wi-Fi Hotspot for Rental Cars:
LINK: www.avis.com (Look for AVIS Connect service.)
Available: In San Francisco late April. Then will be rolled out in 10 major cities.
Price: $10.95 per day.
Dash Express, Internet-Connected Automotive GPS:
LINK: www.dash.net
Searches: Yahoo! Local, www.yahoo.com
Available: Fall 2007
Price: Purchase price has not been set, but likely in the $600-800 range.
Dash Announces 2,000 Road Testers Wanted Dash Navigation is looking for 2,000 commuters nationwide to road test its dash express navigation system. Consumers may apply to join the free Dash National Road Test at www.dash.net.
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