Ever wanted to have Wi-Fi access in your car? You know, when you are listening to the radio, you hear a song, and want to have it loaded on your iPod? Well, what if you could have the Internet access you always wanted, but built in to your car?
Ford has officially announced that the next gen version of the Microsoft Sync system will let owners plug a USB modem directly into a car’s built-in Wi-Fi, creating broadband Internet access to all passengers.
From the CNet article:
Ford said that this factory-installed capability will be available next year on certain Sync-equipped cars and that no extra hardware or subscriptions will be needed outside of an existing broadband modem, which the customer supplies. Ford’s Wi-Fi system will include WPA2 security, ensuring that only people in the car will be able to hop onto the network.
So, time to save up for that new Ford next year…
That's pretty cool, but I can't help but think of all of the accidents that'll cause…
It's for passenger use only … right?
Honestly though – no need to get a new car to get internet access; just get a MiFi and you can operate up to 5 internet connected devices in any vehicle or anywhere else, for that matter.
This comes on the heels of GM announcing WiFi car hotspots avail as a dealer option for most of their vehicles. I can see the police reports of stalking and tailgating coming in now as external users don’t want to lose their connection during rush hour.
And I wonder if this could work the same way users generating their own power can sell the services back to the utility companies? I’ll go park in the Starbucks drive thru and sell wifi back to them, nyaaaa.