In-Car Internet For Chrysler

June 26, 2008 By Digital Trends Staff

Car maker Chrysler has announced that most of its new vehicles will have a wireless Internet option, beginning next year.

There’s connected, and then there’s über-connected. Auto maker Chrysler is about to make the latter very real with its 2009 models as it’s announced that it will introduce a wireless Internet option, called Uconnect Web, across most of its range.

It uses Wi-Fi within the vehicle itself, and then cellular technology to access the Net. There will be a 30GB hard drive in the car, according to the LA Times, which quoted Scott Slagle, Chrysler’s senior manager of global marketing strategy, as saying:
"It’s a notion of always wanting to be connected wherever you are. There’s a demand for that."

Unsurprisingly, it’s drawn the ire of safety advocates, including many states. Jonathan Adkins, spokesman for the California Governors Highway Safety Assistant, said:

"Surfing the Web is something people really don’t have any business doing while they drive. It’s definitely a distraction."
Although Chrysler will urge drivers to be responsible, it’s possibly only a matter of time before someone is in a wreck because he tried to check his e-mail while driving.

Showing 7 comments

Daniel P at 2:42pm 21st July 2008 Remember that there are passengers as well who would like this option.
James at 2:57pm 26th June 2008 You know...Jon M has a point there, what if your car sync'ed with your home PC music collection when parked in the garage and then transferred it to an internal drive? Thats a sweet idea!
Jon M at 10:31am 26th June 2008 Might be cool if you can get internet radio, or even access the music on your home pc. Say, I like that idea!
Jon M at 10:31am 26th June 2008 If the actual access is limited, as in not running a full version of OSX or Windows on a screen on the dashboard, then uses like James mentions would be great. Otherwise, it's another place for people to play solitaire. Can you imagine not being able to start your car because you picked up a trojan?!
IceBreaker at 10:22am 26th June 2008 car internweb wifi sounds flip'n sweet! you could check ur myspace while ordering a whopper @ burger King drive threw. no1 can stop the interweb!
Tim Stevens at 9:54am 26th June 2008 LOL, i love your #3.

My first through was "Great, more distractions..." but I think the GPS point is really valid.

I just wonder how much they are going to charge for the cellular access.
James at 8:22am 26th June 2008 I can see this being a good thing for a number of reasons:

1) It will allow in-car GPS systems to automatically update without the need of a satellite.

2) Peer-to-peer GPS systems like the Dash use WiFi to give real-time traffic data

3) Trojans and other spyware are always cool, and it could potentially allow others to control your car for you. Why drive when you can have someone else do it for you? :)