AT&T Powers Connectivity in Volvo Vehicles

The machine to machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem is all about partnerships, integration and collaboration. This could not be more true than in the newest generation of vehicles, which includes all different kinds of connected car features. AT&T (News - Alert) and Volvo are the latest partnership in this space, bringing high-speed wireless connectivity from AT&T into Volvo cars.

AT&T will power Volvo's Sensus Connect, an embedded infotainment service that offers cloud-based connectivity, a Park&Pay feature, embedded, Pandora (News - Alert)-streaming Internet radio, Wikipedia, remote start via smartphone, dealer appointment booking, destination attraction searches and an available Wi-Fi hotspot.

The cars will also feature emergency notification service Volvo On Call and Single SIM, which enables wireless device deployment and operations with diagnostic tools and smart alerting. Volvo customers will also have access to AT&T’s Control Center, its service management platform, which is powered by Jasper Wireless (News - Alert).

“We expect Volvo customers will be delighted to have these services on board, and we're committed to working with Volvo Cars to give their customers a unique and valuable service," said Chris Penrose, senior vice president, Emerging Devices, AT&T Mobility, in a statement. "Our Single SIM will make it easy for Volvo customers to have high speed wireless connectivity in the U.S. and Canada."

This isn’t AT&T’s first move into the connected car market. Its Drive Studio is a 5,000-square-foot facility that was designed to bring together automakers and software companies to collaborate on new connected car technologies. It also partners with Tesla, powering Tesla’s remote engine diagnostics, telematics and Internet radio. Users are also be able to surf the Web, get live traffic and weather reports and top of the line navigation. All of these features are access through 17-inch screens in the company’s cars.