If you go out and purchase a new car today, it's pretty much guaranteed to have some connectivity options as standard, even if it's just a satnav feature. But older cars are limited to what used to be the standard: a stereo with a CD player if you're lucky. Now AT&T and Harman have teamed up to offer connectivity to all cars, even if they're 20+ years old.
The answer to the connectivity conundrum in old cars is apparently the on-board diagnostics port (OBD II) located underneath steering wheels. Harman, a part of Samsung, developed the Harman Spark device in collaboration with automotive software company Tantalum. The Spark is what plugs into the OBD II port and unlocks connectivity for up to 10 devices at a time.
In order to be connected, you need a mobile plan and that's where AT&T comes in. The Spark device will be offered exclusively by AT&T for $79.99 when combined with a plan. Prices start at $5 per month without WiFi, but increases to $20 a month for unlimited data in your car.
This Spark/AT&T combo unlocks more than just WiFi, though. Signing up for a plan gains you access to emergency crash assistance, a virtual mechanic alerting you to problems with your car, a roadside assistance manager, and a driving score and tips feature.
On top of that there's some monitoring options, too. WatchIt alerts you if your car is hit, towed, or moved while you are not present. Geofences allows you to set driving boundaries when someone else is driving, for example, your son or daughter borrows the car. Fleet share/Family manager allows you to see where drivers are in a car and check up on a vehicle's health. Finally, there's a parking reservation feature allowing you to reserve spaces in advance.
Spark features are controlled using the Spark app available from the App Store or Google Play. It also unlocks paying for things in-app, such as a parking reservation. So if you don't want to trade in your classic car, or simply can't afford a new one, maybe this is a way to upgrade your vehicle and keep everyone in the car happy on long drives.