ZTE Mobley, powered by Qualcomm chip, now for sale in AT&T Mobility stores
LAS VEGAS – In the march toward fully autonomous driving, our vehicles are becoming increasingly connected. And while that self-driving future is still down the figurative road, current automotive connectivity is focused on adding in-vehicle Wi-Fi and mobile-optimized entertainment platforms.
U.S. carrier AT&T Mobility unveiled a new in-car Wi-Fi device during CTIA’s Super Mobility expo. The ZTE Mobley, which can connect up to five devices to the Web, became available in AT&T stores last week.
If you’re interested in getting Wi-Fi in your car, the device is free with a two-year contract or $100 with no contract. The ZTE Mobley can be added to a Mobile Share Value plan for $10 per month or can go on the DataConnect plan for either $20 for 1 gigabyte of data or $30 for 3 GB.
The in-car Wi-Fi is managed through a Web-based AT&T account page and is powered by a Qualcomm MDM9215 processor.
AT&T Mobility SVP of “Internet of Things,” Chris Penrose said the device is a good fit both for families that need entertainment on the road and for professionals who need to stay connected to the office.
“It allows multiple Wi-Fi-capable devices to connect to AT&T’s 4G LTE network, making it perfect for anyone on-the-go,” Penrose said.
On the hardware side, ZTE USA CEO and Chairman Lixin Cheng said the goal is to make something “both useful and affordable. Collaborating with like-minded organizations in the U.S. has brought innovative Wi-Fi products to market that fuels our success and industry evolution.”
AT&T has also entered into an agreement with carmaker Jaguar Land Rover North America that will see AT&T Mobility connect the company’s in-vehicle “infotainment” features including Wi-Fi access, navigation and other specialized applications. The initial product rollouts will be in the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models beginning this month with more models to follow.
Penrose said the partnership will “deliver a connected experience in cars for drivers and passengers. Our Mobile Share Value and other data plans give Jaguar Land Rover customers flexible options to stay connected while on the road.”
