It wasn’t long ago that connecting to the Internet from a home computer was a novelty technology. During the dial-up days, networks were reserved for larger businesses. Today, many households are connected and have their own networks that allow sharing and distribution of music, movies and information from any access point in the house.

The devices that are connected via Wi-Fi allow family and friends to connect to a world of opportunity on the Internet. Over the years, other technologies have migrated from the house to the automobile, which makes Internet in the vehicle the next logical frontier. However, this gift may arrive in a much different package than its at-home counterpart.

One way to connect is through OnStar, a widely recognized telematics service offered by General Motors. This product delivers automatic crash notification, directions to your favorite destination via turn-byturn navigation, vehicle diagnostics and a clever way to unlock your car if you leave the keys inside. For navigation, there is even an enhancement to the turn-by-turn navigation service that allows subscribers to plan travel destinations on the MapQuest website and send them to their OnStar-equipped vehicle. While this acts similar a wireless connection than traditional Internet, it is a great example of the services offered in a connected car.

There is another technology that provides a connection more comparable to what you may find at home. Autonet Mobile is the first wireless Internet Service Provider designed for installation into vehicles. The company provides a mobile router that will turn your car into a Wi-Fi hot spot, allowing multiple passengers to connect their own Wi- Fi-enabled electronics devices to the Internet. The company provides the router, as well as the monthly service. When installed, it allows for uninterrupted connectivity while the car is in motion. The router runs over both 3G and 2.5G cellular data networks, providing coverage in both the U.S. and Canada.

As the first automaker to offer Autonet, Chrysler is bringing it to market as UConnect Web. The system will provide high-speed data transfer and flexibility, combining Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity for a new level of wireless technology. The system transforms the vehicle into a hot spot to deliver the Internet directly into the vehicle for instant access to websites, e-mail, personalized music, online gaming, photo albums and more. The product and service will be offered as a dealerinstalled option through Mopar for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep.

The Autonet technology was developed by Sterling Pratz, a former midget-car racer, and a partner. Pratz said he used his racing earnings to seed the start-up of the company.

“Our goal was to become the network service provider for cars, then become the entertainment center for cars,” Pratz said. “We felt the DVD player was losing ground. The younger generation today is all on the Internet.”

After race-team owner and entrepreneur Roger Penske took the router and service for a test-drive, he lobbied Robert Nardelli, Chrysler’s chief executive, to add it to Chrysler vehicles. Nardelli was so impressed, he struck up a deal with Pratz to add it as a dealer option.

The technology is also available in the aftermarket at about 50 specialist shops, Pratz said. Chris Franks, who owns Custom Car Stereo Inc. in Houston, is selling four to five units each month.

The router is installed in a vehicle’s trunk, so it isn’t visible.

Franks said shops can sell the service as a more affordable option than cellular, because Autonet allows unlimited usage for $29 a month. The connection speed is also much faster, he said.

A technology known as Vehicle Infrastructure Integration initiative (VII) is another new way to connect the car to the Internet, the road and other cars. The VII initiative is a cooperative effort—between the federal Department of Transportation, state and local governments, the automobile industry and other partners—to support development of an information infrastructure for ongoing real-time communication of data between vehicles to enable multiple safety, mobility and commercial applications.

An implemented VII network enables travelers to access traffic conditions and routing information for multiple modes of travel, receive warnings about imminent hazards and conduct mobile commerce (mCommerce) within the vehicle by enabling electronic payment capabilities. It also will enable transportation agencies with access to data needed to better manage traffic operations, support planning and more efficiently manage maintenance services.

Some examples of VII applications include warning drivers of unsafe conditions or imminent collisions and alerting drivers that they are about to run off the road or speed around a curve too fast. The system could inform drivers of real-time traffic congestion, weather conditions and incidents. While these are great features, perhaps some of the best features will come from commercial applications such as mCommerce. Everything usually changes when money is involved, and this should be no exception.

There are many opportunities and applications that will result from this technology breakthrough. You might have an application and service that allows you to easily order a meal from your favorite restaurant while on your commute home. You could even sign up to receive mobile eCoupons that allow you to take advantage of special offers. With a quick voice command, you may make a request for specials for, say, some Italian restaurants and receive them while you’re still in the car. Because the restaurant knows where you are and the traffic conditions, they may be able to pinpoint your arrival as you place your order and have it ready just as you arrive.

Another application may allow you to optimize your automobile’s performance by letting service centers within your proximity know the condition of your vehicle. For instance, an oil change facility could send you an eCoupon for fluid service at the precise time you need it. You could also be linked in to your local dealer who may report that you are due for a brake inspection or that your engine is not performing as it should, thus reducing your fuel economy.

Services and applications such as these still have a few challenges to gain the bandwidth achieved at home. Just as Internet in the home has become pervasive, Internet in the automobile may become the rule rather than the exception. As consumers demand this technology, the mobile electronics industry should benefit when these new services, applications and products arrive in the market.

While these applications are convenient and important, the entertainment applications and services present the best opportunity for our industry. Imagine the ability to download or even stream music and movies into a rear-seat entertainment system. You could surf the Internet while watching your favorite television show or laughing at funny YouTube videos. You could even network with friends and family via MySpace or Facebook. Just as with Internet at home, the possibilities are endless.

Connecting the car to cyberspace opens up new opportunities for mobile electronics retailers. Embracing this and other new technologies is the best way to stay in business by providing the cool technology consumers want in the home, on the go and in the automobile.