Ford recently announced the addition of the built-in AT&T 4G LTE Ford SYNC Connect Wifi Hotspot which gives passengers a new way to stay connected in select 2018 Ford models.
The hotspot can support up to 10 devices at a time and, when parked, is accessible up to 50 feet outside the vehicle. An external antenna improves the signal and increases Wi-Fi performance, in both everyday commuter traffic and long family trips.
“SYNC Connect allows travelers to stay connected and entertained on the go. The new Wi-Fi hotspot capability will allow kids to easily watch movies and listen to music, or, if you’re on the job, to quickly send emails and access the web from wherever you are.”
-Don Butler, executive director, Ford Connected Vehicle and Services
Ford SYNC Connect Wifi Hotspot Details
SYNC Connect Wi-Fi hotspot users can monitor data usage, signal strength, and connected devices, plus block certain devices and change settings on the SYNC 3 touch screen. They can use FordPass to view Wi-Fi data usage and link to AT&T’s account management portal.
Ford owners can select a standalone AT&T data plan. Existing AT&T customers can easily share data among their smartphones, tablets, and vehicles with an AT&T Mobile Share Advantage or Mobile Share Value plan. New vehicle buyers qualify for a trial subscription of three months or three gigabytes – whichever comes first.
To take advantage of the built-in Wi-Fi hotspot capability, a 2018 Ford vehicle must come with the appropriate hardware and a wireless service plan is required. Data coverage and service is not available everywhere and terms of your wireless plan, including applicable data and message rates, may apply.
Our Take
Wi-Fi in your work truck has obvious advantages and I’m not talking about catching up on Netflix at lunch. More than ever, we need to be connected for communication and be able to accomplish computer-based tasks from anywhere.
In a sense, that makes it harder to truly get away on vacation, but it does allow us to be more productive. One of the frustrating parts of vehicle-based Wi-Fi is that you’re still tied to a specific wireless provider – AT&T in this case. That’s great if you’re already a customer, but the rest of us get to add another bill to the stack if we want the capability.
I realize manufacturers make exclusive business deals and that’s all well and good. But the ultimate in connectivity will be when your F-150 can connect to any major carrier. As long as I’m wishing, I’d like data speeds to be high enough for both kids to stream Netflix for the entire trip and for the data to be free. But I digress…
Will this make you more productive? Will AT&T gain some customers?
Absolutely. But as long as you’re tied to a specific carrier, it’s a feature that not every new Ford owner will take advantage of.
