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2At the New York Auto Show, a Changing Car Culture
Many of the old tactics for selling and displaying a car still apply. Speed, fuel efficiency and good looks all matter. But increasingly, so will the wireless modules under the hood (as it were). The technology on board, says AT&T’s Lurie, “is going to be one of the reasons people decide whether to buy or not buy a car.”
3The Connected Car by Volvo
4Internet at the Push of a Button
5Automaker App Stores
Automakers will eventually host their own app stores for customers. General Motors, for example, has said most 2015 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac models will have app store access this summer. The AT&T-connected Volvo, however, will ship with about 15 apps but, at least for now, no option for downloading more.
6The Apps Are New, Not the Data
Most people’s first experience with in-car access to a cellular connection was with GM’s OnStar. Volvo offers something similar, with OnCall, which is accessible via a mobile app. Car makers and carriers are still figuring out the details around connecting cars to data plans. (OnStar was sold as a service—not as data use.) This summer, AT&T will begin allowing subscribers to add cars to their data plans as easily as a new tablet.
7Ford Sync
8Using Apps to Keep Cars on the Road
At last year’s New York Auto Show, Ford launched an app developer program and announced a Fuel-Efficiency App Challenge. Shown here is the 2015 Focus Electric.
9The Dodge Challenger
Encountering the 2015 Dodge Challenger, Internet connectivity won’t be most people’s first thought. But the car does feature an 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment system. Up to 10 Bluetooth-enabled devices can connect to Uconnect, which can turn the car into a hotspot and give a driver voice control over the radio, digital media storage players and any connected phones.
10What’s Worth Boasting About
11Smartphone, Meet Smart Car
12Millennials Behind the Wheel
With automakers using social networks such as Instagram and Twitter to attract young drivers, in-car connectivity is no longer an option. “We’re seeing 30, 40 percent of people saying they’re going to choose a car that’s connected,” AT&T’s Lurie told eWEEK. “This is now here.” (Pictured is the 2015 Scion FR-S.)