Verizon officially launches its aftermarket car device and subscription service to bring connectivity to any car on the open road.

Sarah Thomas, Director, Women in Comms

August 26, 2015

2 Min Read
Verizon Hums a Driving Tune

After nearly a year of beta testing, Verizon's aftermarket vehicle device, designed to bring connectivity to any car, is ready to hit the road. The carrier announced the commercial launch of the device, called hum, and subscription service Wednesday.

The self-install hum device provides drivers with diagnostic information, roadside assistance and access to mechanics and emergency personnel via a smartphone app connected over Bluetooth to an onboard diagnostic (OBD) reader. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) first announced the OnStar competitor in January under the moniker Verizon Vehicle. (See Verizon Vehicle Races to Catch Up to OnStar.)

Figure 1: The Verizon hum includes an onboard diagnostic reader plugged into the vehicle's OBD port, a Bluetooth-enabled device clipped to the visor and a smartphone app that uses LTE and GPS to provide connected car services. The Verizon hum includes an onboard diagnostic reader plugged into the vehicle’s OBD port, a Bluetooth-enabled device clipped to the visor and a smartphone app that uses LTE and GPS to provide connected car services.

For more on connected cars, visit the dedicated automotive content section here on Light Reading.

Hum provides the same level of information about cars that fitness wearables do about health, Verizon Telematics CEO Andrés Irlando said in announcing the technology. Verizon is charging $14.99 per month plus taxes, fees and equipment for the first vehicle with a two-year contract. Customers can add more cars at a lower cost. (See Verizon Focuses on Cashing In on LTE.)

Hum is just one of several ways Verizon is taking on competitors like AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) in connected cars. By making an aftermarket device, the carrier can reach the more than 150 million cars that are already on the road -- and unconnected -- today. It is a complement to other efforts, which include a focus on driverless cars, built-in LTE connectivity with partners like Mercedes Benz, a ZipCar-like car rental service, partnerships with insurance providers and more still to come. (See Verizon Builds Driverless Cars Their Own City, AT&T Clinches M2M Market Lead With GE Deal, Verizon Creates a Mobile ZipCar and Verizon Spends $612M for a Future in Cars.)

— Sarah Thomas, Circle me on Google+ Follow me on TwitterVisit my LinkedIn profile, Editorial Operations Director, Light Reading

About the Author(s)

Sarah Thomas

Director, Women in Comms

Sarah Thomas's love affair with communications began in 2003 when she bought her first cellphone, a pink RAZR, which she duly "bedazzled" with the help of superglue and her dad.

She joined the editorial staff at Light Reading in 2010 and has been covering mobile technologies ever since. Sarah got her start covering telecom in 2007 at Telephony, later Connected Planet, may it rest in peace. Her non-telecom work experience includes a brief foray into public relations at Fleishman-Hillard (her cussin' upset the clients) and a hodge-podge of internships, including spells at Ingram's (Kansas City's business magazine), American Spa magazine (where she was Chief Hot-Tub Correspondent), and the tweens' quiz bible, QuizFest, in NYC.

As Editorial Operations Director, a role she took on in January 2015, Sarah is responsible for the day-to-day management of the non-news content elements on Light Reading.

Sarah received her Bachelor's in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She lives in Chicago with her 3DTV, her iPad and a drawer full of smartphone cords.

Away from the world of telecom journalism, Sarah likes to dabble in monster truck racing, becoming part of Team Bigfoot in 2009.

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