AT&T and Audi have put a price on in-car data.
The issue is of interest to radio, which receives the majority of its listening in-car.
At CES, the companies said this summer Audi would offer a mobile data plan to AT&T customers who would like to add their new Audi to their existing Mobile Share data plan, we reported.
Now, the companies say their actually offering two options: a 5GB/ six-month plan for $99 and a 30 GB/ 30-month plan for $499. The plans coincide with the debut of the 2015 A3 sedan, available later this month. According to the automaker, Audi will enable the first-ever in-vehicle 4G LTE data connection in North America.
All Audi A3 sedans equipped with Audi Connect — including picture navigation, read-aloud news headlines, Facebook and Twitter alerts, access to 7,000 Web radio stations and personalized RSS news feeds — will receive a free six-month trial period.
The plans are based on typical usage in a vehicle. Customers can be sent email alerts if they near the data plan limit.
Having a choice of data plans allows the consumer to pick the one that best suits “their lifestyle and allows them to maintain connectivity in the vehicle for an extended period of time,” said Audi of America President Scott Keogh. With the new AT&T data plans with 4G LTE connectivity, Audi drivers will enjoy seamless navigation, streaming and high-speed access to the Internet, according to Keogh.
Audi plans to roll out 4G LTE capability across its entire lineup as new or refreshed models come to market.