Ultimate Mobile Hotspot: In-Car Wi-Fi

Disclosure

After almost 10 years with the same van, last year we finally purchased a new vehicle. Each year, we watched as technology improved and automobiles came with the latest and greatest gadgets build-in. I’m a pretty frugal person and couldn’t justify buying a new vehicle simply to have something like a USB charger as a feature. If I had known 2015 Chevrolet would have the option of available built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi, I might have tried to hold off my purchase another year because seriously, that would be awesome! In-Car Wi-Fi, people! How cool is that?!

We travel quite a bit – sometimes it is a long-distance trip while other times it is a day/weekend trip for sports or activities, or just to get away for a festival, family event or cool expo. We encourage the kids to bring a book, but inevitably the bulk of the time is spent using electronics. Scott and I utilize the passenger seat time to get some work done. Our current method is to tether our phones but I don’t want the kids burning up the data plan. If they want to use their electronics, I tell them they have to be offline. Soon, that response may change because the OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot provides better in-vehicle connectivity than a cell phone AND it can connect up to seven devices! I’ve harped on it before but I’ll reiterate now: Focus when driving. These cool features aren’t so the driver can surf the web.

So how would this affect our lives?

We’re becoming more of a paperless society. Coupons are online. Music is online. Movies and TV are online. Even school stuff is online! At our school, all the kids utilize Google Docs in some fashion or another. Last year, Miss M did all her spelling sentences on Google Docs and submitted them to her teacher for approval. This year, the school has even started using an app for the school lunches instead of printing out a lunch menu. As the girls get older, I suspect more and more of their studies will transition to online services. If we’re traveling during the school year, a Chevrolet car with built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi would allow the kids to utilize their iPads to access schoolwork. Of course, we also could get our work done using it instead of our phones. Updating social media so our family and friends can see what we’re up to during our travels is just a bonus.

Which Chevrolet models have available built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi?

At this time, only the 2015 Malibu and Impala models offer this option but the list of vehicles slated to have in-car Wi-Fi is pretty extensive. The 2015 models with 4G LTE Wi-Fi coming soon include Spark, Spark EV, Sonic, Cruze Diesel, Volt, SS, Trax, Equinox, Tahoe, Colorado and Silverado. That’s right – the list includes small and mid-size automobiles, SUVs AND pick-ups with standard, traditional and diesel fuel options.

If you are in the market for a new car, be sure to check the list of options available on the make and model you’re focused on. Then sit down and look at what options are available on other vehicles. As we move into a more digital world, something like connectivity provided by in-car Wi-Fi may be the tipping factor in your decision on which vehicle to purchase. I know if it had been available last year when we purchased our new vehicle, it certainly would have had an impact on our decisions.

Chevrolet is merging the physical freedom of the car with the virtual freedom of Wi-Fi to become the first and only car company to bring built in 4G LTE Wi-Fi to the largest vehicle line-up. Visit http://s.chevy.com/TBX  to learn more.