A new connected car device the AT&T HARMAN Spark well be exclusively offered by AT&T for $79.99, starting this week. Rate plans start at $5 per month for plans without Wi-Fi. Plans including Wi-Fi are offered as both standalone or as an addition to eligible Unlimited and Mobile Share plans. And, for a limited time, buy a Samsung Galaxy S9, S9+ or Note9 smartphone and Spark for just $29.99.
Features include:
- Emergency Crash Assistance – Contacts you in the event of a crash to see if you need help.
- Virtual Mechanic – Helps ensure your safety by alerting you if your car needs attention and provides guidance on what to do.
- WatchIt – Lets you know if your car is bumped, towed or moved when you’re not around. Helps authorities locate it if stolen.
- Roadside Assistance Manager – Drop a pin on your location and request help 24/7. Pay through the Spark app and you’ll be back on the road in no time.
- Wi-Fi Hotspot – Connect up to 8 devices from the open road and keep the family happy and entertained while streaming videos and playing games.
- Geofences – Peace of mind for when your loved ones hit the road. Set boundaries on a map and view their location.
- Family share/Fleet manager – Get location of family and business vehicles and monitor vehicle health.
- Parking Reservations – No more circling and looking for a parking spot. Save time and hassles by reserving a space in advance. Pay in the Spark app.
- Driving score and tips – Driving feedback and trip analysis for whoever is behind the wheel. Helps your teen become a safer and smarter driver.
AT&T is helping to fuel business transformation through edge-to-edge capabilities.
It’s simple. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play, plug Spark into the on-board diagnostics port (OBD II) beneath your steering wheel. And you’re ready to go.
Many new cars today come with cloud connectivity, diagnostics, security, and infotainment. But most vehicles on the road lack connectivity.
That’s why AT&T and HARMAN teamed up on this advanced platform that works with most 1996 models and newer. You get the standard features plus in-app payments, on-demand roadside assistance, driving tips and more. New features get added automatically.
“With HARMAN Spark, just about any car can be transformed into an LTE connected car,” said Chris Penrose, President, Internet of Things Solutions, AT&T. “You get the most advanced connected services available on new cars plus some that you can’t get anywhere else.”
“Consumers today are looking for simple devices that make their lives efficient and seamless. HARMAN Spark allows them to easily and affordably transform older vehicles into smart cars of the future with connected applications,” added Sanjay Dhawan, HARMAN CTO and President, HARMAN Connected Services.
HARMAN collaborated with Tantalum, an automotive software company, to enable HARMAN Spark with a rich set of features, an ecosystem of services and a payment platform.
I just got a Spark (Oct 20) last week to see what it can do. The app is lacking compared to other GPS services like LandAirSea Silvercloud or Linxup.
First off, I want to say that ATT is doing a TERRIBLE job marketing it. Calling ATT literally will leave you with more questions than answers. ATT literally knows nothing more than the basics of the unit or app. For anymore info you have to call Harmon.
The App itself does a decent job of tracking (at least where Im at) and updates the location every 45 seconds. The Car health monitoring seems to work fine. Thinking of running my battery down to see if the unit picks up on it. Of course there is no way to check to see if the accident detection feature works with out jacking up your car intentionally. It does not however tell you the fuel level. Thats something I like that LandAirSea’s Sync does.
What the app does poorly on is the interface. Geofences are done on the app and there is no PC interface at all. Making Geofences is difficult and un accurate in the app. Once you have made the geofence, there is no way to edit it. You have to delete it and do another geofence. You can also not set it up for text message or email alerts. You will only get alerts via the phones notifications.
What I do like is, set up is very simple. Just scan the bar code on the unit, though the app, enter make model and even license plate, plug it in and its working. Because you entered your vehicles year make and model, it will even tell you if you have recalls for your vehicle
For $5 a month the basics services are decent (thats without the wifi hotspot) I also believe that $5 a month is only a introductory offer. ATT customer service reps quote $10 a month for the service.
For me to keep this, Harmon will need to incorporate a PC interface as well where I can make much more accurate geofences