Audi is set to become the first car company to offer WiFi as a factory option, it claims, although a handful of other car makers offer WiFi as a dealer option.
The 2011 Audi 8 option will provide a UMTS connection that can light up as many as eight devices with an Internet connection, announced the company. Users just insert a SIM card into the car’s Bluetooth “radio” or they may use their own Bluetooth phone for the connection at speeds up to 7.2Mbit/second. It also provides encryption for security. Looks like the A8 will be a pretty souped up car as the user interface may allow handwriting recognition too, says ZDNet.
Chrysler started the OEM WiFi ball rolling when it launched a UConnect hotspot program in August, 2008. Since then General Motors’ Cadillac and Volkswagen also offer optional WiFi hotspots—all supplied by Autonet Mobile. Ford is also launching this summer, a WiFi Internet car connection to its Sync radios.
A third of Americans want to check email and access the web in their cars, said Ford citing a Consumer Electronics Association study.
Giving people an easy way to surf the web while they are driving is the most insane idea yet for mobile electronics. Some one should come up with a fool proof way to keep the driver from being the one using the WiFi.