Chrysler: In-Car Internet Router $499 + Monthly Subscription
By the end of this month, Chrysler will offer EVDO routers (that's for CDMA services Verizon, Sprint and Alltel) for their cars. This for a whopping $499 a pop. And then there's the monthly service fee– which could be as low as $30. Or whatever the major carriers charge (i.e. more like $60 a month). While you can pick up an EVDO computer modem for free at your local cell phone store, when purchasing a new car, a $500 option may not feel expensive. Then again, is Chrysler kidding? It's bad enough when the guy in front of me is trying to pair his Bluetooth headset to the phone while driving. Now he's going to be on G Chat and Facebook? The system might operate only when parked, at which point I'd just go inside whatever Starbucks I'm parked in front of and use their internet for free. Speaking as an incipient lawyer, how Chrysler's in-house counsel signed off on this project, I have no idea.
Immensely bored law student. I've also got 3 dogs.
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What are some of you guys hyperventilating about? This puts a Wi-Fi hotspot in the car for people who want it and are willing to pay for it. If you don't want it, don't buy it. Not sure if there's market for that or not, but making it available hardly merits criticism. And the fact that you can use alternatives to botch together Internet access in the car doesn't mean no one will want this. Every product out there has alternatives. I'm happy to see a bit of creativity from the Detroit-3 for once. It takes time to develop attractive vehicles. This is a little something Chrysler can offer now.
I agree with the posters above, if this device does what it says it does at the price it says it does it at then it's quite useful. At 500 dollars for car internet plus monthly service fee it's practically a bargain if you drive enough. I mean, have you seen what a Mercedes dealer likes to charge to put a freakin' bluetooth in your car?
Surfing the internet from your vehicle....oh yeah. If this van's a rockin' don't bother knockin' !. Bow chicka bow bow. Maybe you could upload your own in-car amateur movies onto the internet ?.
Another distraction for road users - entertain the kids - since when did siblings agree to watch the same TV show never mind choose which website to peruse - a recipe for war on wheels!