Chrysler announces the rolling WiFi hotspot automobile

Davey Winder
Tuesday, 24 June 2008 02:24

Business IT - Networking

Other technical innovations coming from Chrysler next year include dual DVD players and screens with ports to connect games consoles and portable media players. There's also the SIRIUS Backseat TV with live programming delivered directly to the vehicle. An enhanced voice-activated Bluetooth hands-free can command and control navigation systems, satellite radio and voice mail. The new audio systems will feature full iPod integration.

Even behind the scenes IT is never far away. Chrysler's product development team has created a Knowledge Based Engineering system. This combines proprietary software with engineering data and knowledge, and speeds up overall vehicle development time. In fact, engineers were able to develop the all-new Dodge Challenger in just 21 months, chopping several months off the normal time scale.

Frank Klegon, the Executive Vice President of Product Development at Chrysler says "In today's market, Chrysler's mission is to bring innovation to market more quickly, ultimately resulting in more customer satisfaction and convenience."

The only thing that remains to be confirmed is the cost of UConnect Web. Chrysler will so far only say that it will "be competitive with wireless laptop cards" and that there will be no tie in to long contracts.