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August 08, 2012

Uconnect Access Offered in 2013 Ram 1500 Pickup & SRT Viper

By Ed Silverstein
TMCnet Contributor

Chrysler and Sprint (News - Alert) are providing wireless connectivity for the new Ram 1500 pickup and SRT Viper. Uconnect Access will be available in the re-designed 2013 Ram 1500 pickup and new SRT Viper for in-vehicle communications. There will be new features and services for the vehicles to keep drivers focused on their driving.

The features include voice recognition so drivers can use their voice to compose text messages or enter destination information.

Marios Zenios, head of Uconnect Systems and Services, Chrysler Group LLC, said in a company statement, "Chrysler's goal is to continue enhancing the ease-of-use of technology inside the car.”

“Key factors in our decision to choose Sprint included Sprint's best-in-class end-to-end telematics platform, secure and reliable network, unparalleled relationships within the telematics and broad Machine-to-Machine (M2M) ecosystem, and nimble consumer market experience, including a deep understanding of how customers experience and interact with wireless-based applications, both in and out of the vehicle," Zenios added in a statement.

Chrysler says smartphone and tablet users expect to use applications wherever they go, including in cars. These include hands-free calling and voice command. For example, drivers can wirelessly stream the Internet, or play music from their MP3, while passengers can connect laptops, tablets or smartphones through the vehicle's Wi-Fi hot spot.

Uconnect uses Bluetooth-equipped mobile phones for hands-free calling and texting, as well. Uconnect Access also features one-touch 9-1-1 calling, roadside or vehicle assistance.

The new partnership is getting some positive reviews. In commenting on the partnership, Auto Blog said that vehicle “owners will no longer need to use their own phones.”

A recent TMCnet article said, “Both companies see this as a great marriage between two companies and two industries. Eventually, they hope to extend this philosophy to all things on wheels, a natural extension of what Sprint does every day, but with the added benefit of adding connectivity while ensuring driver responsibility.”

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO West 2012, taking place Oct. 2-5, in Austin, TX. ITEXPO (News - Alert) offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. For more information on registering for ITEXPO click here.

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Edited by Rachel Ramsey