DETROIT- General Motors Co. will offer high-speed wireless internet and other new technologies in most of its vehicles for the U.S. starting next year, company officials announced Monday.
The first GM vehicles to receive the 4G LTE mobile broadband will be most 2015 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac models available next year in the U.S. and Canada.
GM said expected benefits for customers could include in-vehicle WiFi hot spots, new infotainment options like streaming video entertainment in the back seat, real-time updates and faster application downloads.
"In addition to allowing consumers to bring in and connect to personal mobile devices, the vehicle will also act as its own mobile device, enabling embedded vehicle capabilities," said Mary Chan, GM president of global connected consumer, in a statement.
The rollout of the technology, which GM is calling the “largest deployment in the automotive industry to date," is in partnership with AT&T.
AT&T's 4G LTE network is expected to reach 300 million people in the U.S. by the end of 2014. AT&T will replace Verizon as the data provider for GM's OnStar services.
OnStar MyLink is a new mobile phone app for OnStar users.
“Turning this vision into a reality starts with enabling fast, reliable and responsive connectivity within the vehicle,” Chan said
The built-in 4G LTE structure is specifically designed for in-vehicle use as it is integrated into the vehicle’s electrical system and includes an external antenna to maximize coverage and connectivity, according to GM.
GM will announce additional carrier and supplier relationships in coming months to expand 4G LTE capabilities in markets, such as Europe, around the globe. Additional details on availability, pricing and service options will be announced later, according to GM.
OnStar, which recently upgraded its system to be more globally recognizable, has attracted 5.5 million subscribers in the U.S.; 428,000 since launching in Canada in 1998; and 450,000 in China.
In the U.S., OnStar subscriptions are $18.95 a month or $199 a year for the "Safe and Sound" package, which does not include navigation. With navigation services, the system costs $28.90 a month or $299 annually.
When launched originally in the U.S. in 1996, OnStar was primarily used for telephone calls, emergency response and operator-generated directions.