Cadillac To Offer In-Car WiFi in CTS

 Remember when people fantasized about in-car internet? I remember it being a topic people would discuss. Well, that day has arrived. Chrysler was one of the first (if not the first) to offer it as an option, but Cadillac is hot on the heels with an announcement of a system of it's own.

According the press release, demonstrations of the system in action will start next month at the New York International Auto Show. Dubbed Cadillac Wi-Fi (thankfully not some tortured marketing name), it uses technology from a company called AutoNet Mobile. They're the first Internet Service Provider dedicated to offering internet in cars.

The system turns the inside of the car into wireless hotspot, and it can be used with any device on any platform. That means Nintendo DS's, PSP's, iPods, iPhones and of course laptops. How cool is that? Imagine it will keep quite a few kids (and their parents) occupied.

Per Cadillac's VP, Mark McNabb:  "Consumers today are frequently searching for WiFi access wherever they may be,"..."Adding WiFi is a natural extension of the tech features already inside the CTS, such as a 40 gigabyte hard drive with USB port, a pop-up navigation system featuring real-time traffic and weather forecasts and the exclusive ability to pause and rewind live radio."

The system taps into a 3G network, delivering speeds around 800Kbps. It's a $499 dealer-installed option, with the monthly subscription fee checking in at $29. I wonder if this is a retroactive upgrade? Like if a current CTS owner could opt for it. I would imagine so.

Speeds like that offer the ability for multiple people to be using it at the same time. In Cadillac's words "(it enables) One passenger to update a Facebook page, while another is gaming online or watching YouTube videos".

Not bad! The CTS already is a technological tour de force and this only takes that a step further. This should be a popular option on Cadillac's best-selling CTS.  Best of all, the system is available starting next month.  I wonder how quickly it will take for the technology to be trickled down to the rest of GM's lineup?