Bell and Ford partner in new Connected Car initiative

Built-in Wi-Fi hotspots in Ford and Lincoln vehicles powered by Canada's best national mobile networkMONTRÉAL, Oct. 18, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell today announced it is the first Canadian wireless service provider to enable built-in Wi-Fi hotspots in supported Ford and Lincoln vehicles with Bell's Connected Car - Built In service. Available vehicle diagnostics services will also be supported on Bell's national LTE network."Drivers and their passengers can now connect to Wi-Fi just as conveniently in their Ford and Lincoln vehicles as they do in their homes," said Nauby Jacob, Vice President of Products and Services at Bell Mobility. "As a Canadian leader in Internet of Things innovation, Bell is proud to partner with Ford to bring car owners across the country an even better in-vehicle experience."

Ideal for mobile workers, commuters and long family trips, Connected Car enables passengers to browse, stream and share on Bell's broadband LTE wireless network when they're on the road or nearby the vehicle when it's parked. The Wi-Fi hotspot features a dedicated external antenna, supports up to 10 devices at a time, and is powered by the vehicle's electrical system rather than the device battery.

As advancements in technology continue to connect people and enhance their lives, Ford is committed to taking the lead. In-vehicle Wi-Fi allows customers to stay connected with their friends, family and the world around them. From streaming music and driver assist technologies, to navigation and everything in between, connectivity is the key.

"Having reliable Wi-Fi on the go is no longer just 'nice to have' - it's become a 'must-have,' and Ford recognizes that," said Marc Vejgman, Connected Vehicle Marketing Manager for Ford of Canada. "Connecting our vehicles is part of building smart vehicles for a smart world, and we look forward to working with Bell to offer Ford customers another way to stay connected across Canada."

Ford customers can take advantage of a complimentary wireless data trial that expires at the end of 3 months, or after 3 GB of data is used, whichever comes first. After their trial is complete, customers can stay connected by signing up for a data plan. Bell customers can share data from their Bell Share plan with Connected Car for $10 a month, with 1 GB in bonus data per month for 24 months. Bell Connected Car - Built In will be available for supported Ford and Lincoln vehicles beginning November 6, 2018.

Connected Car is the next evolution in the smart vehicle experience and part of Bell's IoT leadership to enable the connected vehicles, homes, businesses and smart cities of the future.