Updated with note that T-Mobile US continues to supply connectivity for current Audi models.
LAS VEGAS – AT&T continued its push beyond the traditional telecom segment, announcing a handful of connected car initiatives to kick off this year’s CES event in Las Vegas.
From a competitive standpoint, the most interesting announcement was a deal with Audi offer LTE connectivity for Audi beginning with the 2015 A3 model that will come with the Audi Connect service that includes picture navigation, read-aloud news headlines, Facebook and Twitter alerts, access to more than 7,000 Web radio stations and personalized RSS news feeds. In addition to powering Audi’s in-car telematics service, AT&T will allow its customers to add the service to a Mobile Share data plan. Pricing for that option was not announced.
Audi said it plans to begin LTE connectivity across its lineup as new or refreshed models come to market.
Audi had initially announced a partnership with T-Mobile USA in early 2011, powering the Audi Connect service beginning with the 2012 A7. T-Mobile US noted that it renewed its agreement with Audi last August as the exclusive supplier of wireless connectivity for the sale of new A8, A6, A7, A4, A5, Q5 and Q7 models.
AT&T last year stole away General Motor’s OnStar contract from Verizon Wireless, signing a multi-year agreement to provide an “enhanced suite of safety, security, diagnostic and infotainment services.” AT&T last year also announced a deal with Sirius XM Radio to provide mobile connectivity to support a suite of security and other services for Nissan automobiles in North America.
AT&T’s aggressive move into the automotive market is being supported by its AT&T Drive Studio based in Atlanta as well as a new platform dubbed AT&T Drive.
The studio, which is located near AT&T’s Foundry Innovation center, includes working garage bays, a speech lab, a showroom to exhibit the company’s latest wares and conference facilities.
AT&T said its Drive telematics platform allows automakers to select which features they want to include in a solution, selecting from such options as global SIM provisioning; billing; safety, security and diagnostics solutions; voice enablement; service delivery; application store capabilities; and policy management.
Supporting the AT&T initiative are partners Ericsson, VoiceBox, Synchronoss, Accenture, Amdocs and Jasper Wireless.
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