Porsche 2.0 at CeBIT
Mar 20, 2015
Vodafone has some clever ideas in store for the Internet of Things at CeBIT in Hannover, including a "Porsche Car Connect" smartphone app for networking these elite sports cars.
Besides all the big names in the German automotive industry, more and more international automakers are starting to draw on the expertise that Düsseldorf-based telecommunications group Vodafone offers in M2M solutions for networking machines. And where better to demonstrate the quality of a high-speed network than in some of the very best, and undoubtedly fastest, vehicles on four wheels? From now on, Porsche will be offering an even safer and smoother driving experience with a little help from Vodafone subsidiary Cobra.
The announcement fits perfectly with the smart ideas Vodafone is showcasing for the Internet of Things at this year's CeBIT in Hannover. The first three series from Porsche to benefit from its collaboration with Cobra are the Panamera, Macan and Spider 918 – and the Cayenne, Boxster and Cayman are set to follow. Networked via a Vodafone M2M SIM card, the vehicles will be able to send an automatic signal to the Porsche alarm center via their inbuilt communications unit if they are stolen. The owner will also be contacted and the alarm checked. Once the vehicle has been confirmed as stolen, the alarm center can start tracing the vehicle and activate further measures. Networking also has benefits in everyday situations, too, especially in terms of convenience. For example, the driver can check vehicle information via the "Porsche Car Connect" smartphone app such as fuel capacity, tire pressure and maintenance intervals or even regulate the aircon this way.