At Mobile World Congress, AT&T announced new services, alliances and new agreements with Audi and Porsche. It will supply the wireless service for the Samsung Connect Auto and is working on a smart cities framework and smart EV charging systems.
AT&T 4G LTE for Porsche
AT&T and Porsche have entered a multi-year agreement for high-speed 4G LTE Internet in select 2017 models. AT&T will offer wireless connectivity in certain 2017 Porsche Macan, Boxster and 911 models.
Porsche’s Connect Plus services, powered by AT&T, are either standard or an available option on a number of models and will include a Wi-Fi hotspots, navigation, news and weather alerts and other infotainment services. Porsche is the tenth major auto manufacturer connected by AT&T.
Existing AT&T customers can share data among phones, tablets and their vehicles with Mobile Share Value or purchase a separate stand-alone plan. The cost for connecting Porsche vehicles equipped with Connect Plus to an existing Mobile Share Value plan is a $10 access charge per month. You can get up to $650 in credits per line to help you switch to AT&T.
AT&T & Audi
AT&T and Audi have expanded their connected car relationship to bring high speed Internet to select 2017 and 2018 Audi vehicles. Since 2014, AT&T has powered Audi cars for Audi connect and Wi-Fi. Under this new agreement, AT&T will be providing next-generation technology, featuring new safety, security and infotainment features, such as remote lock and unlock, stolen vehicle locator, online roadside assistance and service requests.
Audi connect offers services ranging from picture navigation to enhanced social media and mobile app integration, and access to up to 7,000 Internet broadcast stations. Generation 2 adds the ability to access and monitor the vehicle from a compatible smartphone or smartwatch.
Audi customers can share data among phones, tablets and their vehicles with AT&T Mobile Share Value or stand-alone plan. The service is for eligible vehicles only. Audi Connect Prime and Mobile Share Value plan are required. Monthly, overage & other charges, fees and restrictions apply.
Intelligent EV Charging
AT&T and Schneider Electric have developed a proof of concept solution that has the potential to solve the industry-wide challenge of enabling facility managers and drivers to access data from Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) systems. This enables intelligent load distribution and effective energy access management.
The proof of concept uses AT&T Internet of Things (IoT) solutions to wirelessly connect Schneider Electric’s EVlink charging stations to an open, flexible cloud platform that can integrate with any back-end system. This IoT-enabled solution aims to deliver a seamless experience for both station operators and drivers. Trials of the technology will be held in several U.S. cities.
AT&T Smart Cities Framework
AT&T also recently welcomed more cities to its smart cities smart cities framework, welcoming Southern Company and Hitachi to its strategic alliance. AT&T also added two new spotlight cities to its roster—Montgomery County, Maryland and Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Introduced last month, our smart cities framework is a holistic approach to help cities better meet the needs of their citizens using Internet of Things (IoT). The framework, which will initially roll out in select spotlight cities and universities, is supported by an alliance of key technology leaders and industry organizations. Together, the partnership will deploy solutions that help cities address critical issues like high energy costs, transportation, aging infrastructure, and public safety.
As a member of the smart cities alliance, Hitachi will bring its experience working with companies on a global scale and expertise to help solve issues that affect quality of life in cities and at universities.
Montgomery County, Maryland is collaborating with AT&T and Deloitte on developing a smart cities framework to explore the various possibilities of smart transit.
The Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina is entering into a brand-new agreement with AT&T to be one of the 2016 Spotlight City Pilots. Particular emphasis will be on the downtown corridor of Chapel Hill called Franklin Street, a mix of retail, public transit and parking, college student activities, and entertainment venues. The street gives AT&T and the Town of Chapel Hill the opportunity to explore and implement many of the service offerings AT&T and its collaborators can provide today including smart lighting solutions, parking sensors, public venue options and transit, and exploring a number of opportunities to increase public safety. The Town of Chapel Hill also wants to partner with regional universities to analyze and develop actionable results from the data that will be gathered once the smart cities solution is underway and implemented.