General Motors Selects at&t's 4G LTE network TO DELIVER enhanced services to Millions of vehicles
AT&T*, the leader in emerging devices and telematics services, today announced an agreement with OnStar, LLC, a subsidiary of General Motors Corporation (GM), to wirelessly deliver an enhanced suite of safety, security, diagnostic and infotainment services to most Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac vehicles, beginning in 2014 in the United States and Canada.
The multi-year agreement calls for AT&T to enable millions of GM cars, trucks and crossovers with 4G LTE mobile Internet access, providing the latest wireless technology to power GM's safety and security services offered by OnStar, as well as a new suite of infotainment services like streaming audio, web access, applications, and even video for backseat passengers. AT&T will also enable GM's in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspots and voice calling services. These enhancements build on OnStar's existing portfolio of connected services, first introduced in GM vehicles in 1996.
Contractual and financial details of the agreement are not being disclosed.
"Introducing 4G LTE into GM vehicles is a game-changing opportunity, and we couldn't be better positioned to help drive this movement," said Ralph de la Vega, president and CEO, AT&T Mobility. "We're working closely with GM to grow the connected car base, and provide unique and relevant services that will improve the connected experience inside automobiles for both drivers and passengers."
"By adding a fast, reliable and built-in 4G LTE connection specifically designed for vehicles, we can drive innovation to enhance virtually every aspect of the driving and riding experience ? from safety and diagnostics to entertainment to integration of emerging third-party applications," said Mary Chan, president, Global Connected Consumer, General Motors. "Through this built-in 4G LTE connection we have the opportunity to reinvent the mobile experience inside a vehicle."
Beyond 4G LTE connectivity, AT&T and GM will work together as part of a broad ecosystem focused on development of new communication applications for the vehicle designed to deliver more efficiency while also enhancing the driving and riding experience.
GM will preview a series of conceptual connected services at GSMA's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week in the AT&T-sponsored area of the Connected City. GM's move to integrate 4G LTE services in vehicles in the U.S. and Canada is part of a broader global strategy.
GM and AT&T first teamed in January when GM sponsored a Connected Car Challenge as part of an AT&T Hackathon for mobile app developers in Las Vegas. During the event, GM introduced a new set of vehicle application programming interfaces (APIs), enabling developers to build apps for GM vehicles' infotainment systems. The GM SDK (software developers' kit) also offers a new flexible application framework that will allow drivers to add apps and features to their vehicles after purchase.
Telematics, Apps and Global Presence
AT&T has been an industry leader in telematics and related applications development, offering a range of connectivity and services for cars manufactured by a variety of global automotive makers. For more than a decade, AT&T has provided world-class connected and M2M device support and professional services to many of the world's largest device manufacturers and global exporters of wireless-enabled equipment. AT&T has certified and supports nearly 1,300 varieties of connected devices, with labs dedicated to bringing new devices to market, global roaming and integrated SIM provisioning, billing and reporting tools.
Many of these advancements are being made possible as a result of AT&T's innovation programs, which include the AT&T Foundry, TIP (an internal innovation program) and AT&T Labs. Researchers are leveraging decades of speech recognition expertise to deliver a connected, voice-enabled virtual assistant for use by automotive manufacturers. The technology will be backed by the AT&T WatsonSM speech engine, providing a complete cloud-based, voice-enabled natural language mobile virtual assistant solution for wirelessly connected vehicles. AT&T also provides support for hands-free speech-enabled services to prevent driver distraction, as well as remote vehicle functions such as door lock/unlock, remote start, and vehicle location services.
AT&T was also the first to enter the market with a proprietary, single global SIM platform enabling automotive, consumer and M2M equipment makers the ability to work through a single carrier to wirelessly enable and connect products. Announced last year, AT&T's single SIM platform delivers built-in access to wireless and data networks throughout most of the world, with service in more than 200 countries and access to more than 600 carriers worldwide. AT&T's platform is backed by a world-class service-management solution, AT&T Control Center powered by Jasper Wireless, offering powerful global diagnostic, monitoring, and alert/response capabilities proven to help automate operations and reduce the total cost associated with globally connected vehicles, consumer devices and M2M deployment.
AT&T 4G LTE Network
AT&T customers today have access to the nation's largest 4G network, covering 288 million people. AT&T recently announced Project Velocity IP (VIP), its strategic plan to invest $14 billion over the next three years to enhance and expand its wireless and wireline IP broadband networks. As part of Project VIP, AT&T's 4G LTE network is expected to cover 300 million people by year-end 2014.
AT&T's 4G LTE network has been recognized for its speed and coverage. AT&T 4G LTE delivered faster average download speeds than any of the competitors in PCWorld's most recent 13-market speed tests, and telecommunications industry analyst firm Frost and Sullivan awarded AT&T its 2012 North American Mobile Network Strategy Award for the second year in a row.
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