How much are you prepared to pay for connectivity?

I'd love for it to be on the order of $10/mo, given the miniscule amount of data I'll use. I suspect it'll be more like $30/mo and I'll post a rant on TMC forum and grumble aloud and eventually just cough it up since I think the convenience of the "always on" connectivity will far outweigh the annoyance of having to reconnect to my phone to tether. I wish I wasn't such a pushover on these things...

If you look at iPad plans it goes like this:
$15 - 250 MB (AT&T)
$15 - 300 MB (Sprint)
$20 - 1 GB (Verizon)
$30 - 2 GB (Verizon)
$30 - 3 GB (AT&T)
$30 - 3 GB (Sprint)
$50 - 5 GB (AT&T + Verizon)
http://www.imore.com/att-vs-verizon-vs-sprint-which-ipad-carrier-should-you-choose

You can probably expect something similar (maybe only the AT&T prices)

stopcrazypp said:

If you look at iPad plans it goes like this:
$15 - 250 MB (AT&T)
$15 - 300 MB (Sprint)
$20 - 1 GB (Verizon)
$30 - 2 GB (Verizon)
$30 - 3 GB (AT&T)
$30 - 3 GB (Sprint)
$50 - 5 GB (AT&T + Verizon)
http://www.imore.com/att-vs-verizon-vs-sprint-which-ipad-carrier-should-you-choose

You can probably expect something similar (maybe only the AT&T prices)

Click to expand...

That $15/250MB is all I'd need...I could swallow that.

efusco said:

That $15/250MB is all I'd need...I could swallow that.

Click to expand...

It's not clear on how much data is sent for the various features. I use map view and traffic all the time. I don't use slacker et al. The only time I use the web browser is to show people that there is one. And I use the App.

I have to say if it is $30/month, I will probably just by a portable 4G Wifi and leave that in the car most of the time.

jerry33 said:

It's not clear on how much data is sent for the various features. I use map view and traffic all the time. I don't use slacker et al. The only time I use the web browser is to show people that there is one. And I use the App.

Click to expand...

True, and it varies. I go on XM only stints for a while, I may go on a 500 mile round trip listening to Slacker while using NAV and my wife surfs the web. That said, I think that if I could remember to make the change, that for my everyday driving I would use the connectivity, but for longer trips just tether my iPhone (where I have a 4GB data plan) and save the other usage. The issue would be whether I remember to set up the tethering on those trips.

As long as it mirrors AT&T's pricing for the iPad, I think I'll be fine. When buying the car, I figured I'd eventually have to pay for service -- and figured $25-30/month would be OK. I have an employer-provided iPhone with tethering disabled, so I'll have to buy a plan personally regardless. The only question is if a LTE hotspot might be better value...

Its really too bad that AT&T's plans go from 250MB at $15 to 3GB at $30... Would be nice if AT&T offered a 1GB/mo plan for $20 -- might work for my usage in the Tesla since for the last ~2 years, i've regularly streamed podcasts from my phone while commuting, and I think I've only gone over 1GB usage in a month only once.

If AT&T had such a $20 / 1GB plan, they could easily apply their regular $10/GB overage charge (so if you occasionally went over its not bad, but still a "penalty" over paying $30 for 3GB to encourage people to step up if they frequently go over...).

A firmware update for the car alone probably takes around 250MB, so I'd expect the plans to be priced in the 2GB - 3GB range.

I'd prefer to pay $20. That would feel like a good deal. I'm prepared to pay $30.

EarlyAdopter said:

A firmware update for the car alone probably takes around 250MB, so I'd expect the plans to be priced in the 2GB - 3GB range.

I'd prefer to pay $20. That would feel like a good deal. I'm prepared to pay $30.

Click to expand...

That's where I am. I hope it is only $20/month as well.

I voted $15 for full connectivity but I think I am only willing to pay $10. For $10 extra a month I can turn my 4G phone into a hotspot and get connectivity that way. This all assumes that the phone app will still work without the plan. I believe it will.

I'll just tether my phone to the car. I like the phone app, but honestly don't use it all that often. And I park within WiFi at home and work, so I could still connect without a "connectivity" plan.

---EDIT---

I'll also add that I believe that the phone app (and REST API) will be availaible regardless of whether or not you get the connectivity package. I think Tesla is going to pull/call this data for their own purposes anyway. It should be VERY VERY low data volume.

EarlyAdopter said:

A firmware update for the car alone probably takes around 250MB, so I'd expect the plans to be priced in the 2GB - 3GB range.

I'd prefer to pay $20. That would feel like a good deal. I'm prepared to pay $30.

Click to expand...

Firmware upgrades, and any other modification that Tesla pushes or pulls (e.g. monitoring, battery status, etc.) to (or from) your car will not be counted in your plan. They have their own proprietary data link independent of other "fun stuff" (e.g. web, music).

NigelM said:

I guess those are some details still being worked out. I'm happy to have FW updates via WiFi so there'd be no need to include those in the plan, OTOH that may not work for everyone (see FW-updates-OTA-vs-WiFi).

Click to expand...

I agree. I think they're going to prioritize updates over WiFi, anyway, and I would hate to have to pay for AT&T data that I'm not using. Since my WiFi network reaches the garage, where my car is parked every night, I don't think I'm going to need need gigabytes of 3G data. I hope I can just pay for what I use.

I don't want to pay TESLA anything(not offense Tesla, I still love you). How about giving me the IMEI to _my_ car and letting me "add a line" to my existing cell plan for an extra $10/month?

Oh wait - I think they DID - is that correct? the ESN# on the liftgate when it's open?

I completely missed the pay for connectivity cost requirement on two test drives. I am astounded that the on board maps don't display on the big screen without a connection, they should be cached. I falsely assumed that the 7 years map updates was fort the on board map was and that this was the main map. I feel like I was sold an incomplete navigation package. I never asked the question, my fault, and the rep never mentioned it. All that being said, I love the car and sometimes feel that Tesla owes me for all the time I spend talking to complete strangers about this astounding piece of engineering. I already have several friends close to pulling the trigger.

To answer the OP question $15 for all.

I see so many folks comparing this to service provider plans. I think you need to rethink "connectivity" as this is for the car. My iPad will get just about 1,000,000% more use than my car. The relation is not analogous. At least, not at this point.

What is connected? Google maps is probably the highest user used item. Voice commands / searches would be my #2. Since the browser is nearly worthless as it is stripped of most expanded functionality, mine isn't much more than a show piece.

This is what Tesla needs to keep in mind with their pricing. GMs OnStar is a rip off for what you get for basic pricing. They (GM, Tesla, etc) would do far better by offering a basic annual plan for $50 that gives all basic functionality (a data cap would be fair). Then up charge from there. Especially since someone spec'd 3G in a 4G world.

Until the browser offers video support or user apps are offered, pricing has to consider real world use.