DALLAS, Jan. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* is continuing to bring high speed internet to BMW vehicles in North America as a part of an extended multi-year exclusive agreement. Since 2008, AT&T has powered BMW's ConnectedDrive services and apps. Through a new agreement, we also will connect BMW "infotainment" features such as a Wi-Fi hot spot.
Beginning with the all-new BMW 7 Series, BMW customers now have the option of a Wi-Fi hot spot powered by AT&T's 4G LTE network.* The Wi-Fi hot spot can be easily accessed through a device such as a smartphone or tablet, which is automatically directed to AT&T's new online Wi-Fi portal, powered by Ericsson. In the portal, users can activate a free Wi-Fi hot spot trial, buy a data session for their vehicle and manage their Wi-Fi account.
BMW customers can share data among phones, tablets and now their vehicles with AT&T Mobile Share Value. The cost for connecting these models to a Mobile Share Value plan is a $10 access charge per month.[1] This gives car owners ultimate flexibility – they can choose a stand-alone data plan or the Mobile Share option.
"We are thrilled to continue our long-standing relationship with BMW and to be a part of a brand that evokes a joy and passion for driving," said Chris Penrose, senior vice president, Internet of Things, AT&T Mobility. "The new Wi-Fi hot spot lets you connect up to 8 devices at a time and allows passengers to access their favorite apps, play games and surf the net at fast 4G LTE speeds."
AT&T's Connected Car Leadership
AT&T is focused on serving the growing number of tech savvy car owners looking for services that improve the driving experience. According to a recent study by AT&T and Ericsson, three out of four consumers consider connected car services an important feature in their next car purchase.
In 2014, AT&T launched 2 major initiatives to lead innovation in the connected car market. The first was a pioneering connected car innovation center in Atlanta, called the AT&T Drive Studio. We also launched a new global automotive solution and development platform, AT&T Drive.
The AT&T Drive Studio features a working lab and showroom to build and exhibit the latest innovations. It is a hub where we work directly with companies and respond to auto maker opportunities.
AT&T Drive is our connected car platform. This modular and flexible global solution helps car makers build unique solutions for the marketplace. They can choose the services and capabilities that are important to them and add features for connectivity, billing, data analytics and infotainment.
AT&T is a telematics leader and connects vehicles around the globe. In 3Q 2015, we added 1.6 million connected devices. Of those devices, nearly 1 million were connected cars.
We were the first major wireless carrier to launch a global SIM platform for cars. The platform lets automotive, individuals and Internet of Things equipment makers use a single carrier to wirelessly connect products across the globe.
For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com. Stay up to date on the latest news at CES by following along with these hashtags: #ATTDevSummit, #ATTVegas, #CES2016, #IoT
AT&T has created a new report to share how businesses can best use the Internet of Things to help cut costs, grow revenues, boost efficiency and satisfy customers. To learn more about IoT's potential, download the report here or visit www.att.com/iot.
*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, mobile, high speed Internet and voice services. We're the world's largest provider of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. In the U.S., our wireless network has the nation's strongest 4G LTE signal and most reliable 4G LTE. We offer the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider*. And we help businesses worldwide serve their customers better with our mobility and highly secure cloud solutions.
Additional information about AT&T products and services is available at http://about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.
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Signal strength and reliability claims based on nationwide carriers' 4G LTE. Signal strength claim based ONLY on avg. 4G LTE signal strength. 4G LTE not available everywhere.
*Global coverage claim based on offering discounted voice and data roaming; LTE roaming; voice roaming; and world-capable smartphone and tablets in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier. International service required. Coverage not available in all areas. Coverage may vary per country and be limited/restricted in some countries.
[1] Add a vehicle to Mobile Share Value: Eligible vehicles only. Req's min. Mobile Share Value plan (starts at $20/mo.) plus $10/mo. access charge per vehicle. Monthly, overage & other charges, fees & restr's apply. See att.com/mobilesharevalue for plan details.
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SOURCE AT&T Inc.