Do you envision flying cars soaring across floating cities? Maybe you dream of vehicles that are more like bullet trains—lightning-fast tubes transporting passengers from point A to point B. Or perhaps you’re a staunch believer in cars transforming into teleportation devices. All valid ideas, really. We hate to burst the sci-fi bubble for those dreaming of anti-gravity utopias, but the future of the automobile is already here, and it’s way closer to home than you might initially believe.
We’re talkin’ about connected cars. Unfamiliar? Here’s a definition for you: A connected car is a vehicle that can link to other services and devices via a network. To put it simply, it’s a car equipped with Wi-Fi. Okay, so maybe this future is a little more grounded than our flying car scenario, but the story of In-car Wi-Fi, why it matters, and how it’s currently shaping the future of travel is (excuse the pun) a total trip.
In fact, the history of connected cars is a testament to the rapid evolution of technology and its integration into our daily lives. What started as a luxury feature in high-end whips is now standard in over 50% of vehicles. The journey from early experiments with cellular data connections to today’s seamless integration of 5G is a story of human progress, innovation, and collaboration among automakers, mobile carriers, and tech companies. The car is no longer just a simple vehicle—it’s now a mobile hub of productivity, entertainment, and connectivity.
Sounds great, for sure, but why does it all matter? Because understanding the story of In-car Wi-Fi is essential to unpacking exactly where technology, not to mention driving and commuting, is headed. It’s going to entirely change how we travel, connect, and think about automobiles. In other words, you should wrap your mind around connected cars ASAP.
We teamed up with AT&T, a longtime leader in the connected car space, to tell the story of In-car Wi-Fi, why you need it, and where it’s headed. Let’s start our engines.
Takin’ it back to the ‘90s
The story of In-car Wi-Fi began in 1996, when General Motors collaborated with Hughes Electronics Corporation to create OnStar, a safety feature that could route cell phone calls to nearby emergency centers in the event of an accident. Released to market as an optional feature for the Cadillac DeVille, Seville, and Eldorado, OnStar quickly became a hot functionality among car aficionados, tech junkies, and the media. The Chicago Tribune went so far as to celebrate the innovation as a “high-tech guardian angel.”
At first, OnStar worked only with voice comms. However, by 1999, mobile carriers began adding what’s now known generally as data into their cellular systems, allowing for tracking features like GPS to be implemented into OnStar technology. Emergency services would not only be notified of an accident but could also pinpoint exactly where it occurred.
As more and more vehicles began utilizing OnStar and OnStar-like technology, the concept of a connected car began taking root in consumer consciousness. It slowly started to become the norm.
Entering the millennium
Y2K ushered in a whole lot more than boy bands and frosted tips. In 2001, car manufacturers worked alongside mobile carriers and technology companies to introduce remote diagnostics into vehicles. What’s that? It’s simpler than it sounds. Basically, remote diagnostics for cars means a vehicle can communicate its health status and report mechanical issues to a centralized wireless system. Let’s say there’s a problem with your car and the engine light starts blinking. Remote diagnostics would allow a technician to discern the issue simply by checking the diagnostics system. It essentially streamlines repair and maintenance.
Matt Chinworth
As the technology of the early aughts continued pushing forward into the digital age, car manufacturers followed suit, enticing potential buyers with cool, sleek upgrades. In 2004, BMW welcomed the SIM card into its roster of cars, allowing drivers and passengers to check messages, catch up on the weather, and even manage office tasks on the go. In 2005, the Acura RL and Cadillac CTS were sent to market equipped with real-time traffic updates and nav systems.
A New York Times review from the era suggests just how game-changing this tech was. “Starting this fall, you will no longer need to turn on the radio to find out there’s a 10-mile backup on the L.I.E. or a pileup ‘under the apartments’ near the George Washington Bridge,” reads one article.
We laugh now at how vintage this sounds, but it was a seminal breakthrough.
The 2010s are calling
Smartphones and 4G mobile technology supplanted everything that came before, giving users instant, high-quality access to video and audio streaming, online gaming, and the internet at large. Car manufacturers quickly began working 4G into their assembly lines, equipping cars with all kinds of forward-thinking tech features that allowed drivers and passengers to stay connected on the road. In 2014, Audi became the first automaker to offer 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspots, and in that same year, General Motors deployed its first range of vehicles carrying 4G LTE. By 2015, the idea of a connected car had solidified into an expected reality.
This isn’t to say that 4G-equipped cars were a driver’s dream. As with any new technology, there were a few growing pains. Their plans were expensive, their interfaces could be clunky, and coverage was often spotty, especially in rural areas. Plus, 4G connectivity was usually available only in high-end cars, making it somewhat inaccessible to broader audiences.
This all changed in 2019, when mobile carriers released their fifth (and screaming-fast) generation of networks: 5G. This new gen put forth the most reliable connectivity yet, allowing billions of devices to transmit data to way more places. So far, 5G has driven huge advancements in IoT (Internet of Things—that’s a whole other kettle of fish), VR, AI, and more. While we’re still smack-dab in the 5G revolution, you can probably recognize all of its developments: HD roadmapping, self-driving cars, souped-up entertainment and streaming options, next-level weather detection systems, and road maintenance reporting. It’s fair to say cars have truly gone sci-fi.
Gazing into the future
So, what’s to come? If there’s one thing that can be said for certain, it’s that the future of travel (and, let’s be real, pretty much everything) is connected. On a fundamental level, applications designed for drivers—upgraded nav, utility, and infotainment systems—are expected to become much more common and much more dependent on high-speed internet connections.
Even more exciting? Cutting-edge features like Amazon Alexa and Google built-in (yep, that means both of those tools are integrated into your car from the get-go) are dependent on a data connection. So if you wanna ask Alexa to play music, listen to audiobooks, hear the news, or check the weather, you’re going to need an In-Vehicle Data & Wi-Fi subscription. One small note: Some original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) require you to purchase a wireless data connection for these features to work. Feature availability is often dependent on vehicle model, trim level, packaging, and options.
There will be changes outside of your car, too. For example, the future of payment at the pump is trending toward contactless models of exchange, where you can pay for gas simply by pulling your car into the station. The payment system will just connect to your car’s data plan and complete the transaction. Is your mind blown yet?
Here’s more: As electric vehicles become more prevalent, In-car Wi-Fi will also be used to manage and optimize battery storage, power in-car apps, and communicate maintenance issues.
Perhaps even more exciting is the concept of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication. Yes, everything. V2X is defined as “communication between a vehicle and any entity that may affect, or may be affected by, the vehicle.” This means your car will be able to share information about its speed, location, and direction with other vehicles, infrastructures (like traffic lights and tollbooths), and even pedestrians, especially in crowded urban areas.
Remember how OnStar was created with consumer safety in mind way back in the ’90s? Well, that humanistic element remains today when it comes to In-car Wi-Fi. The future is connected—and thus safer.
Why equip your whip with Wi-Fi?
Here’s the bottom line: You need In-car Wi-Fi because surviving in our world requires Wi-Fi. Cars are becoming smarter and smarter, which means you’ll eventually need to equip your car with a network. Want HD mapping? Contactless payments? Voice activation? Pristine audio and video streaming? Enhanced safety features? Of course you do. Or maybe you wanna just make your life easier and turn your car into a mobile office? Or maybe you just wanna use it to stream the game and kick back at your next tailgate?
This is why you need a connected car sooner rather than later.
A service like AT&T In-car Wi-Fi can get your car connected in no time. You can hit the open road with access to everything the internet has to offer: streaming, browsing, sharing, downloading—you name it. Stay connected to your office, your fam, and your squad. Plus, you’ll be setting up your car for our not-so-distant future of contactless payments, V2X communication, and enhanced safety features. It’s a no-brainer.
AT&T In-car Wi-Fi covers more roads than any other carrier, all for as low as $10/month with an eligible Unlimited plan. The Wi-Fi works inside and outside your vehicle, so pit stops won’t slow down your journey.
The future of travel is here. Get connected.