The Autochannel in the UK is talking about a long wheelbase Audi A8 with built-in LTE 4G connectivity. That shouldn’t be a big feat, it’s new technology, but it can be bought off the shelf. The Autochannel pistonheads however are deeply in awe: “LTE technology offers data transfer speeds of up to 100Mbps, which is similar to a fixed-line broadband connection. This means passengers in the prototype can use the LTE broadband connection to stream music, high-definition videos and other data on up to six computer or mobile phone devices with ease.” Sure, and Ferdinand Piech invented the Internet.
In real life situations, Verizon’s LTE network promises speeds of 5-12 Mbps down and 1-5 Mbps up. Actual tests have shown that it’s not the hardware that makes things faster, it’s the network.
Put a Samsung Galaxy S smartphone into Murilee’s pocket, and he’ll convert the 1962 Plymouth Fury into a datacenter-on-wheels. Just don’t run Speedtest.net while on the track, willya? Ray wouldn’t like that.
Or you could, you know, cough up two hundred bucks (free on contract!) for an LTE USB stick.
I will admit that it’s humbling and disturbing to see peak speeds on wireless that exceed, sometimes by 200-300%, what my pathetic DSL connection can push. The flipside, though, is that for all the speed you’re still subject to a usage cap that you could blow with two Netflix rentals. I’m sure the overage fees wouldn’t trouble someone who would swing the payments on an A8L.
DSL and mobile broadband are positively medieval in the states. 3Mbps is what my house in Texas maxes out at on DSL. I get faster than that on the subway in Seoul! And don’t get me started on data caps. I just dumped Clear after trying it for a few weeks.
And now with ATT swallowing T-Mobile, the choice of GSM providers in the US has come down to 1, with ridiculous tethering rules.
I don’t think most Americans understand how far behind the rest of the world we are in connectivity, wired or wireless.
It could be worse, you could be in Canada. Trust me on this: as someone who signs off on US and Canadian cell contracts, Americans aren’t doing too badly.
Indeed, not to mention the dearth of streaming options in Canada for video and music. Pandora’s not available in Canada even if you could afford their data caps.
@psarhjinian
Are you kidding? That’s like coming in next to last in a race and saying you’re not doing too badly.
Last year, I got a better deal in Haiti than I did from ATT. 25 USD for a 2GB cap and then they want another 15+5 USD for Wifi tethering? GTFO. I bought an unsubsidized iPhone 4 so I don’t have to be on contract, yet I still have to pay the subsidized monthly rate plan. WTF? I’m already double paying for my phone, yet they want me to pay again for data I already pay for with an additional for a service that’s already built into the phone.
And now they merge with T-Mobile so there’s really no competition…
I’m waiting for the free market and Adam Smith’s invisible hand to right this ship.
Telecomm is exactly the kind of industry that demonstrates a failure mode of the free market.
Unlike, say, software or media, it’s hugely capital-intensive, and the established players will always function as a de-facto cartel: they have the cash piles and intercompany relationships that can squash any newcomer. Your best hope isn’t Adam Smith, but a little government arm-twisting: eg, forcing carriers to allow open roaming in order to maintain their spectrum license.
In the absence of such a move, the best hope would be entry into the market by another cash-flush entity with this level of expertise. You know, like, NTT DoCoMo or T-Mobile… Err.. Ahh.. Right.
It’s easier for a newcomer to be the next Toyota than the next AT&T.
I guess I should have tagged that last sentence with a sarcasm marker.
I understand the nature of telecoms and why telecoms, particularly ones with a line to the premises, are not participants in an open and free market. What frustrates me to no end are 1.) those who insist that it is indeed a free market and 2.) free market parrots who think that deregulating an inherently uncompetitive industry will lead to a positive outcome for anybody other than the mono/duopoly.
Really, how many years before we break up ATT again? It’s like a bad science fiction movie.
Don’t other manufactures have built in wifi in their cars you can plug your phone into and have an instant data access? I am pretty sure this has been around now for awhile, at least a couple of years.
Chrysler had it as an option. Which, frankly, nobody ordered.
If you need internet access in your car, there are far better options that paying for another wireless account, as well as two to five grand for a non-upgradable modem hardwired into the vehicle.
Hush! Don’t tell the guys in Ingolstadt!
Found what I was talking about. Ford allows you to plug in a USB modem into the car and the car has built in wifi that will use your USB modem to connect. No separate data plan needed.
Interesting color combination in that A8… Are you really able to order it in those colors (or will you be)?
That was a China special. Beijing Autoshow. Faux Rococo is big here.
On the 100 Mbit: We have a fiber line in Tokyo now. 100 Mbit up and down, nominal. We get 40 – 50 Mbit, up and down, depending load. Paradise! Now we are back in 4 Mbit China, with 1Mbit international …
Why would anybody want to build data service into their car when they can use smart phone tethering or a little mifi device to do the same thing? Dumb. But I could see luxury car buyers signing up anyway.
A few years ago the hardware required for LTE was too big and power hungry to fit in your back pocket. I used to develop them. The first gen hardware was about as big as a small pizza box. Second gen is smaller, about the size of a wifi router. Today’s tech is small enough to fit into a smartphone. Audi must have started development on this a long time ago, when the size and power requirements made it worthwhile.
More and more people seem to be using cars for everything but driving. I refuse to even own a cellphone because I don’t like the idea of always being ‘on-call’ all the time (and I’m no Luddite, by the way). I much prefer driving to work than working while I’m driving. I’m sure there will be lots of replies saying that these kinds of advances are great for this and that (I’ve heard all the arguments), but in the end, for all the good things they do, they end up placing increased demands and expectations on people to be constantly ‘available’ at a moments notice at all times and places, even while you’re driving. Of course someone is going to say you can just turn it off, but the competition and pressure to be constantly ‘available’ and ‘productive’ in this sense can be hard to resist. Some people no doubt enjoy being able to multitask at all times and in all places, but I actually like having some time and space for myself without the pressures and expectations to be constantly available.
Thanks, but no thanks.