- A simple solution comprising a CarConnect adapter and smartphone app turns any car into a networked vehicle
- Unique offering: hotspot on wheels included – surf and stream just like at home, with a 10 GB allowance
- Technical solution for business partners also available
A car doesn’t have to be new to be smart. From the end of October, the CarConnect adapter and its associated smartphone app will be turning cars made from 2006 onward into networked vehicles, enabling these services:
- Surf and stream just like at home: The adapter’s integrated SIM card transforms a car into a hotspot on wheels, including a 10 GB data allowance
- Know what’s going on: Evaluate driving data (e.g., battery charge level, error codes), receive notifications if the vehicle is damaged or stolen
- Track the vehicle in real time – watch its route unfold as it drives (current and previous routes)
“What makes our package unique is that it combines vehicle data with a hotspot. We’re not just giving owners of older models the chance to make their vehicle smart, we’re also giving them a hotspot on wheels, which is particularly appealing to families. Surfing and streaming in the car is now simple and inclusive”, explains Michael Hagspihl, Head of Consumers at Telekom Deutschland.
The Telekom offering comprises the CarConnect adapter for a once-off price of estimated 70 euros, the CombiCard Car with an inclusive allowance of 10 GB for 9.95 euros per month with EU roaming and the free CarConnect app (for iOS and Android smartphones). Users must have a MagentaMobil contract.
“Digital Drive” – a smart solution for business partners
In addition to the CarConnect package for consumers, T-Systems, the arm of Deutsche Telekom that serves business customers, is also offering “Digital Drive”, a manufacturer-neutral retrofit solution for dealers, OEMs, insurance companies and fleet operators. The solution enables businesses to offer their customers networked vehicle services and comprises an adapter with SIM card, an app – available for iPhone and Android – and a web portal for end customers. Operation, support and systems integration are all included for business customers, while consumers get their information via the app. T-Systems supplies the entire system as a white-label solution, allowing business customers to add their own branding and extend the offering with their own services for end customers.
“Digital Drive enhances the established features of the adapter and app to also exploit the benefits of the German cloud – particularly when it comes to security and data protection. What’s more, we are integrating specific partner solutions such as intelligent claims management. That makes Digital Drive particularly appealing to insurance companies and their end customers across Europe,” says Anette Bronder, Director of the Digital Division and Telekom Security at Deutsche Telekom.
Successful partnering
Both CarConnect and Digital Drive are based on a technical solution from Canadian startup Mojio. Deutsche Telekom entered into a partnership with the company last year and is also one of its investors. The service is already available on the market through T-Mobile in the United States (SyncUp Drive) and in the Czech Republic (Chytré Auto).
Visit Deutsche Telekom’s booth in Hall 21a at the IFA trade show in Berlin from September 1-6 to experience our products and services live. Deutsche Telekom’s entire presence at the trade fair is carbon-neutral − all CO2 emissions generated in setting up and operating the booth are fully offset by carbon-reduction projects abroad.
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