BMW and Vodafone have announced a partnership that’ll see all new BMW cars in Germany fitted with a special machine-to-machine SIM card. The Vodafone SIM will work with the BMW ConnectedDrive telematics system, offering a personal concierge service, traffic updates and an emergency call function.
It’s part of a five-year agreement and involves a SIM card that offers a lifespan of more than ten years, the ability to withstand extreme temperatures and anti-corrosive protection.
Jan Geldmacher, CCO for Enterprise at Vodafone Germany, said “Our services facilitate networked driving and provide a driving experience that goes far beyond conventional mobility. The cooperation with BMW positions us in the lucrative automotive sector, one of the key M2M communication markets, and enables us to effectively demonstrate our global competence.“
From 2015 onwards, the EU wants all new cars to be equipped with eCall technology that will automatically call the emergency services after an accident.