Verizon’s new gadget makes dumb cars smart

Verizon Hum
Verizon Hum
Verizon

If you desperately want a connected car but can’t afford to shell out for the latest model, Verizon has a solution that can turn your dumb car into a smart one.

Verizon on Wednesday released the Hum, a gadget and service than can turn older cars into Internet-connected vehicles. The Hum offers vehicle tracking, repair notifications and Bluetooth-to-smartphone connectivity, among other features.

Here’s more on how Hum works from Verizon:

Subscribers simply install hum through an onboard diagnostic (OBD) reader that is plugged into the vehicle’s OBD port, and a Bluetooth-enabled device that is clipped to the visor. The monthly subscription also includes a smartphone app allowing subscribers to monitor their vehicle health, contact help, and manage maintenance needs, even when they are not behind the wheel.

The Hum will cost $14.99 a month for the service on a two-year subscription plan, plus taxes and fees. It’s available to Verizon and non-Verizon customers alike.