Today’s consumers are passionate about staying in touch and want to be connected no matter where they are — home, work, school or vehicle. To focus on the experience and connect customers to the things that matter the most, Chrysler LLC will now bundle innovative consumer technologies under one umbrella name – “uconnect.” The function of the feature is directly in the name – uconnect phone, uconnect tunes, uconnect gps, uconnect studios and uconnect web.
“We set out to connect customers to the things that matter most to them,” said Deborah Meyer, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer – Chrysler LLC, in the press release. “The role for ‘uconnect’ in the 2009 model year places the focus on the customer experience and how the features will make their life easier.”
Following are the definitions of the uconnect features.
uconnect phone
What it does: Uses Bluetooth technology to provide voice-controlled wireless communication between the occupants’ compatible mobile phones and the vehicle’s onboard receiver. New for 2009, the hands-free system automatically downloads up to 1,000 phone book entries from supported phones. The system also recognizes three languages, and is capable of learning. Voice commands can manage onboard phone book entries, select radio stations and access voice mail. Voice memos can be recorded using the microphone that’s integrated within the rearview mirror. Three memos of up to thirty seconds each can be stored in the system. The hands-free option promotes safety, freedom, value and flexibility.
Availability: Chrysler 300, Aspen, PT Cruiser, Sebring and Town & Country; Dodge Avenger, Grand Caravan, Caliber, Challenger, Charger, Dakota, Durango, Journey, Nitro, and Ram; Jeep(R) Grand Cherokee, Commander, Compass, Liberty and Patriot
Part of uconnect phone on select Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles is an Apple iPod interface, which allows an iPod to be plugged into the vehicle’s sound system to play music through the vehicle’s speakers, charge/recharge the iPod when the ignition is on, display artists and music choices on the radio and pause play when uconnect phone receives a phone call. The iPod can be controlled through the radio controls and the remote steering wheel switches (if equipped). The system uses a Universal Customer Interface (UCI) connector located either in the glove box or in the center console, depending on vehicle model.
uconnect tunes
What it does: uconnect tunes includes the following features for music, movie and personalized picture display:
• A 30-gigabyte hard drive for ripping up to 6,700 songs from CD or USB memory devices in compressed format (either MP3, AAC or WMA file formats)
• Photos can be loaded onto the hard drive, allowing the customer to personalize the home screen
• Movies can be displayed on the screen for entertaining passengers when the vehicle is in Park (as permitted by the state regulations)
Availability: Chrysler 300, Aspen, Sebring and Town & Country; Dodge Avenger, Caliber, Grand Caravan, Challenger, Charger, Journey, Nitro and Ram 1500; Jeep Commander, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Liberty and Patriot
uconnect gps
What it does: uconnect gps combines the features of uconnect phone and uconnect tunes with navigation and real-time traffic. The system includes an integrated voice recognition system and touch screen for easy operation. The voice recognition system also recognizes more than 100,000 words and can input addresses, which allows the customer to enter destinations while the vehicle is in motion.
Availability: Chrysler 300, Aspen, Sebring and Town & Country; Dodge Avenger, Caliber, Grand Caravan, Challenger, Charger, Journey, Nitro and Ram; Jeep Commander, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Liberty and Patriot
uconnect studios
What it does: uconnect studios offer optional SIRIUS Backseat TV(TM), featuring three channels of family TV programming, and optional SIRIUS Satellite Radio, with more than 130 channels of the best music, entertainment and information coast to coast. The systems can be bundled or opted for independently depending upon model availability, and either can be operated from the rear-seat entertainment unit or from the radio head unit.
• Chrysler’s uconnect studios offer optional SIRIUS Satellite Radio which provides more than 130 channels, including 69 channels of 100 percent commercial-free music, plus sports, news, talk and entertainment. Station selection with the radio is easy, using the same familiar method as choosing an AM or FM station. Consumers are able to scan channels or have preset buttons for their favorite channels. They can also search both by music category and channel, which is displayed on the radio screen.
Availability: SIRIUS Satellite Radio is available on all Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles
• Chrysler’s uconnect studios offer optional SIRIUS Backseat TV which features three channels of family TV programming: Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network. SIRIUS Backseat TV operates via an in-vehicle satellite video receiver and two small roof-mounted antennas. Programming is displayed on the vehicle’s second- and/or third-row video screens, and channel name, program title and rating is broadcasted and displayed on the screen. In addition, when the vehicle is in Park, programming can be displayed on the uconnect tunes or uconnect gps screen for front-seat viewing (as permitted by state regulations). New for 2009 in the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan are larger nine-inch rear-seat video screens that swivel.
Availability: Chrysler 300, Aspen and Town & Country; Dodge Grand Caravan, Charger, Durango, Journey and Ram 1500; Jeep Commander and Grand Cherokee
uconnect web
What it does: The system will provide high-speed data transfer and flexibility, combining WiFi and cellular connectivity for a new level of wireless technology. The system transforms the vehicle into a “hot spot” to deliver the Internet directly to the vehicle, for instant access to Web sites, e-mail, personalized music, online gaming, photo albums, and more.
Availability: Chrysler plans to offer aftermarket in-vehicle “hot-spot” wireless Internet capability through Mopar(R) for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles.
Source: Chrysler LLC
Bye Honey, I’m going out to drive my iPod to the store….
This is all great till your Car gets stolen.
Apple and others know how to wipe the data from a stolen car or device remotely. The bigger point, they can track the stolen car from the cell towers in real time!
2009? A bit late considering what BMW & Mercedes already have right now…….
As for voice controlled wireless commands….some countries translate that as broadcasting & insist on a the owner purchasing a radio-ham operator’s license….How many buyers in those countries??????
unconnect appears to be designed to bypass or work independently of the iPod, in my opinion. I didn’t see anything about connecting an iPod to play music or videos from it, or using GPS data from an iPhone 3G. For instance, transferring music to the unconnect HDD won’t work for Fairplay DRM’ed tracks. The only bow to Apple is the inclusion of the AAC format in uconnect tunes.
unconnect seems somewhat similar to the Microsoft Big @ss Table, but on wheels.
More driver distraction.
There really will be blood on the click wheel.
Well at least their gas hogs will be useful for something when people can’t afford to drive them.
Will this prevent iPhone interference from blaring through my stereo speakers?
KingMel (aka BlindBastard):
Part of uconnect phone on select Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles is an Apple iPod interface, which allows an iPod to be plugged into the vehicle’s sound system to play music through the vehicle’s speakers, charge/recharge the iPod when the ignition is on, display artists and music choices on the radio and pause play when uconnect phone receives a phone call. The iPod can be controlled through the radio controls and the remote steering wheel switches (if equipped). The system uses a Universal Customer Interface (UCI) connector located either in the glove box or in the center console, depending on vehicle model.
Better than having Ford’s Sync powered my Microsoft.
Uconnect??? I keep reading it as “Unconnect” . . . not b/c i’m trying to disparage it, but b/c it looks like it should read “Unconnect” . . .
Of course it could’ve been named “Zune” . . .
uConnect porn option to be announced.
“If you’ve bought one of our vehicle, you’ve already been screwed….”
“uConnect porn option to be announced.”
That’ll give new meaning to needing a jump and topping off the fluids.
Surfing the net while you drive. So much for Chrysler LLC being a “Limited Liability Corporation”. The lawyers in Detroit must be licking their chops!
@ Ampar, also new meaning to “bumpy roads”
To MacLovin: Nice!
I still like the idea from the SNL skit of putting Jiffy Pop popcorn in the airbags. Have a snack while you wait for the EMTs.
As for the wi-fi, does this mean you have to subscribe to their particular service, or does it work with the current data plan that you already have with your cell phone company?
I think a system that somehow converts any mobile phone company’s data stream into wi-fi that you can run anything on (like a Macbook or iPod touch) would be fantastic.
It’d be great for someone like me who lives where there is no decent AT&T;service. Essentially, my car would allow my iPod touch to do what the iPhone can do on its own, which would be sweet on trips.
Takes war driving to a whole new level!
I kept reading it as unconnect as well. Strange as unconnect is not a word (disconnect).
Poor name choice given the message uconnect is trying to get across.
Cool… now all that Chrysler LLC has to do is come up with a good Hybrid engine that get between 36 to 48 MPG and I buy yet another Chrysler, i.e. Jeep Liberty!
Love that car but it gets rotten mileage, so I’ll keep my Neon for now while I shop Ford and Saturn and keep waiting for these companies new Hybrid due this fall.
Hottest new function of the iPhone – finding the nearest gas station for your weekly ass raping.
Well at least their gas hogs will be useful for something when people can’t afford to drive them
Last I heard the V8-powered imported pickups and SUV’s weren’t doing so well either.
Perhaps they should integrate uconnect as well?
I really enjoy my ’05 Grand Cherokee, already with 140,000 miles on it. Nice 4.7L V8, good torque, nice size, (not as big as many SUVs) but I will probably go back to the Explorer next year. More room, muck quieter, and I had fewer problems with my ’02.
Hopefully, the iPhone will have good integration with it, as all I want is the music from iTunes playing, and for it to quiet down when a call comes in that is then piped through the system. That’s all.
And maybe heads up display….
‘muck’ quieter?
I’ll have to look that one up….
“Apple and others know how to wipe the data from a stolen car or device remotely.”
Others do, Apple has barely learned the importance of fully wiping data from a device you have with you.