Hook Your Car Up to the Internet

If the thought of a long road trip without full Internet access makes you jittery, a new in-car Internet connection could fulfill your high-speed needs.

Novatel Wireless, a leading provider of wireless broadband solutions, has recently announced a partnership with Autonet Mobile, the first Internet Service Provider for cars. The duo plans to offer next-generation wireless connectivity for any vehicle, anywhere in North America.

The technology will combine Novatel's next-gen modules with the CDMA EV-DO Rev A wireless network to connect moving vehicles to the Internet, essentially turning cars into traveling Wi-Fi hotspots. The network exists throughout North America, and can provide a high-speed broadband connection, with speeds similar to a home DSL line, regardless of geographic location. Cars or people up to 100 feet away could even be able to tap into the connection.

With the system, passengers could use laptops, PCs, cell phones, or any other Wi-Fi-enabled device to access the Internet. The technology is also compatible with any operating system that supports Wi-Fi, including Windows, Mac, Linux and Solaris. The system supports just about any activity that could be done with a stationary connection, including surfing Web sites, watching movies, and playing online games.

Autonet Mobile currently provides Avis Rent-a-Car customers with the Avis Connect service, a patent-pending TRU mobile IP platform that uses the 3G cellular network to connect to the Internet. The device works in about 95% of the US, including all major metropolitan areas. Avis customers pay an additional $11 per day for the service.

Autonet Mobile is also taking pre-orders for the current module on its Web site, at a price of about $600, and a monthly service charge starting at $39. In the future, combining Autonet´s experience with Novatel´s new Expedite E725 Express Mini Cad Module will hopefully lead to a faster, compact, and more efficient development process, and better technology.

The companies also plan to work with auto manufacturers to bring the wireless Internet service to the automotive industry. AutoNet Mobile has already completed a sales agreement with its first auto dealership, the Price Family Dealer Group in California.

More information: www.autonetmobile.com and www.novatelwireless.com

via: Information Week