TELUS will be offering internet in the car for its customers via the innovative Mojio connected car solution. TELUS made an announcement this week saying that TELUS' coast-to-coast wireless network and Mojio's open platform that supports a large network of partner and developers will come together to launch the connected car service in coming months. TELUS is a leading service provider in Canada with 13.4 million customers while Mojio provides a cloud-based platform for connected car solutions.
According to both companies, the Mojio solution brings internet to the car using a simple technology. All it requires is a small cellular device that plugs into the car's onboard diagnostic port (OBD II), a feature available in most cars since 1996. By connecting to TELUS' network, the device enables drivers to access a host of information about their vehicle, for example its location, from an application on their mobile device. In their statement, TELUS and Mojio highlighted that being an open platform, more developers and partners will be able to leverage on its data and build richer applications for 24 million cars expected to be on the road in Canada by 2018 with only 1.3 million having built-in connectivity.
Among services that will be available to subscribers of Mojio when TELUS rolls out the service include vehicle diagnostics, automated trip packing, vehicle monitoring, enhanced driving experience, social features and an app store for cars. Drivers with access to Mojio will hence be able to monitor mileage, access information on parking and gas stations, send location information to friends, learn about the vehicle's condition, get directions and track their vehicle. Customers can purchase Mojio for USD169 and will be paying a service cost of USD6.99 per month except during the first year of purchase.
"TELUS is committed to offering innovative new products and we are excited to be the first Canadian carrier to extend our reach beyond the smartphone into automobiles. With Mojio and TELUS, Canadians can add their car to the growing list of connected devices that are working together to make their lives easier.""
- Jim Senko, senior vice-president of Small Business and Emerging Markets at TELUS
""Connected cars represent one of the most fundamental shifts in automotive technology in decades, and through this partnership, Canadians will have access to our leading technology years before it's the norm in new cars. Mojio's innovative technology paired the reach of TELUS' coast-to-coast mobile network will enable drivers across Canada will be able turn nearly any old car into a smart car."
- Jay Giraud, CEO of Mojio