Bell Canada has partnered with Ford on a project that will enable the carmaker’s branded vehicles to be equipped with build-in Wi-Fi hotspots.
Canada’s largest communications company is stretching its arm further into the auto sector with this latest update. Its service, known as Bell Connected Car, will be offered in supported Ford and Lincoln vehicles — 2018 models and newer — starting in November.
“Drivers and their passengers can now connect to Wi-Fi just as conveniently in their Ford and Lincoln vehicles as they do in their homes,” said Nauby Jacob, Vice President of Products and Services at Bell Mobility. “As a Canadian leader in Internet of Things (IoT) innovation, Bell is proud to partner with Ford to bring car owners across the country an even better in-vehicle experience.”
Bell Connected Car will allow drivers to stay connected with up to 10 devices at once, and to connect to the Wi-Fi from up to 50 feet away from the vehicle. The service has been described as ideal for mobile workers, commuters and long family trips, allowing passengers to “browse, stream and share” on the network.
“Having reliable Wi-Fi on the go is no longer just ‘nice to have’ — it’s become a ‘must-have,’ and Ford recognizes that,” said Marc Vejgman, Connected Vehicle Marketing Manager for Ford of Canada. He adds that “Connecting our vehicles is part of building smart vehicles for a smart world.”
Ford is offering its customers a complimentary wireless data trial that expires after 3 months, or after 3 GB of data has been used up — whichever comes first.
