Chrysler has announced that its in-car wireless internet system — dubbed Uconnect Web– will hit dealer showrooms August 25th. Chrysler is the first major automaker to offer such a system.
Uconnect Web will provide high-speed data transfer over the 3G network in vehicles, acting like a hot-spot at your local Starbucks. While this means users will need to supply their own Wi-Fi enabled laptops, phones or other portable electronic devices, the Internet would be accessible while the vehicle is in motion. The service would be offered as a stand-alone dealer option through Mopar for some Chrysler , Dodge and Jeep vehicles.
The system will have a hot-spot radius of about 100 feet, with download speeds between 400 and 800Kbps and upload speeds of 400 Kbps.
Other Uconnect features have been available before but feature improvements and include Uconnect phone, tunes, GPS and studios. Uconnect phone gives users voice and wireless control of their Bluetooth-enabled cell-phones. For 2009, the system is able to download up to 1,000 phone book entries, recognizes three languages and can learn speech patterns. An iPod connection comes with the Uconnect phone set-up, and will charge dockable iPods, display artist information on the radio display and control it via the vehicle’s radio or steering wheel buttons.
Uconnect tunes is a new name for the previously available 30GB hard drive entertainment system that can rip CDs and transfer files from USB devices in compressed music formats such as MP3, AAC and WMA. Photos and movies can also be displayed on the system’s LCD screen.
A voice-controlled GPS system makes up Uconnect GPS, bundling Uconnect phone and tunes with real-time traffic information.
The Uconnect studios option will play Sirius Backseat TV, with three family channels available across the country, just like satellite radio. Three family channels include Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and the Cartoon Network. When in Park, the front LCD display can play the videos, while optional 9-inch swiveling ceiling-mounted screens for back seat passenger in the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan can show video any time.
The system will retail for about $500, not including a $50 installation fee. A one-time activation fee of $35 fee is also required, as is a $29 monthly subscription fee.
