Convert your car in a hotspot

This is one of the most important news that I have read today and in the last few months.

SAN FRANCISCO-(Business Wire)-January 2, 2007 - Autonet Mobile (www.autonetmobile.com), the first Internet Service Provider for cars, today announced they will debut a new wireless service that turns the car into a WiFi Hotspot at ShowStoppers during the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The company also plans to announce an agreement with a world leading car rental company to offer a portable, wireless Internet service by the end of the first quarter.

With the first Wireless Broadband Mobile Network, Autonet Mobile is bringing a new Internet media center to vehicles by letting passengers check email, surf the web, game or communicate via any WiFi-enabled device. The service is optimized for the in-car experience, and is specifically designed to work on 95 percent of U.S. roads, regardless of driving conditions or location. Simply plug the unit into a cigarette lighter or standard wall plug and go.

Autonet Mobile's patent pending TRU Technology enables seamless Internet connectivity so that passengers stay connected while driving. TRU Technology provides intelligent, dynamic automatic session management between high/low speed networks, producing a reliable user experience. The Autonet Mobile Service ensures a secure, broadband-level connection to any WiFi-enabled device within close proximity to the vehicle. The Autonet Mobile Unit is priced to retail at $399 with a monthly service charge of $49.

"We live in a car centric society and our Autonet Mobile Service is directly addressing the communications needs of today's drivers and passengers," said Sterling Pratz, CEO of Autonet Mobile. "Today, 40 percent of all SUVs and station wagons come equipped with media centers, supporting music and DVD's, yet, do not support today's connected lifestyle of the Internet, e-mail and social media. We are putting the connected lifestyle in the car with an easy to use service for executives and families on the go."

According to Dave Whetstone, wireless industry veteran and co-founder of Virgin Mobile USA, "The auto industry has been searching for a practical in-vehicle Internet solution for almost a decade. Autonet Mobile's unique approach has been optimized around the specific challenges of keeping laptops, UMPC's, gaming devices and other WiFi enabled devices connected while driving. The Autonet service will help to fill consumers' insatiable need to stay connected, even while on the road."

About Autonet Mobile

Autonet Mobile is the world's first in-car Internet service provider. Founded by a corporate executive and former race car driver and leading network architect and designer, the company is dedicated to enhancing the in-car experience, and bringing a full, multimedia experience to the 200+ million cars on the road in the U.S. Reliable, secure and fast Autonet Mobile is effective on more than 95 percent of roads in the U.S. The service turns the car into a secure mobile hotspot, allowing multiple WiFi-enabled devices to connect, and giving consumers unparalleled access to data, music, games, chat, and anything else they might like to access in their second home—the car. For more information about Autonet Mobile technology visit www.autonetmobile.com.

Well, all this sounds too good but my main question is, if they have 95% USA coverage how is that nobody has came out with a WiFi Broadband Service to use in our houses? There are few companies offering that kind of service in a few areas of few cities but no in everywhere, and 95% of USA is almost everywhere.

[Source: UMPCBuzz]