Just plug the Samsung Connect Auto dongle in the port to get diagnostics information from your vehicle and also power the 4G LTE hotspot.
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The device connects to an available On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) II port underneath the steering wheel – available in all cars and light trucks built and sold in the U.S. after January 1, 1996 – and can provide an LTE network connection over WiFi to keep passengers online while on-the-go.
But this South Korean company isn’t that interested in plugging smart gadgets or features into new cars as much as it wants to turn old clunkers into smart cars by adding various devices running the Tizen OS. The device makes use of algorithms that calculate travel time, fuel used, and price of fuel per gallon to offer drivers “increased fuel efficiency”.
The Mobile World Congress is one of the three most important technology fairs of the year, and although it is mainly focused on the world of smartphones, Samsung Electronics impressed many with the debut of its Samsung Connect Auto dongle.
Samsung Connect Auto will allow older cars to become smarter by connecting them to the Internet. It can monitor the vehicle’s performance when connected. AT&T will be the first US carrier to provide connectivity to Samsung Connect Auto, which launches in the second quarter. Samsung’s latest such product is called “Samsung Connect Auto” and brings fast cellular connectivity to just about any vehicle.
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Samsung is eyeing the automotive market for other possible applications of its technology: At Mobile World Congress it will also be demonstrating a concept parking prepayment service in partnership with enterprise software developer SAP and Spanish automobile manufacturer Seat. In the event of an accident, emergency alerts notify the driver’s contacts and accident concierge services are provided. A “Find My Car” app also helps in locating the vehicle in real-time using LTE and Global Positioning System. Tizen is the company’s proprietary operating system for mobile devices, which can be found on a handful of Samsung smartphones as well as the company’s smartwatch line-up. The device can also be connected to various Android and iOS smartphone apps to provide drivers with information on safety services. It’s trying to create a whole internet-savvy vehicle ecosystem, and it has the help of big partners like AT&T, China Unicom, Here and Orange – Samsung could “win” simply by becoming the de facto choice for auto technology upgrades.
