What's the point of BlueLink?

[AustinTX]

... Subscriptions are the future for a lot of companies, and it makes sense for them because it locks in a stable cashflow that can be projected, plus small tickets (paper cuts that bleed you to death) are easier for people to digest. Even Adobe moved to a subscription model..

You are right, subscriptions are good for companies - they are often a lousy deal for consumers. I hate subscriptions with a passion, and I avoid these things like the plague, with a few exceptions where it makes sense to me (cell phone, NetFlix, home Internet) because the value exceeds the cost.

The BlueLink stuff mainly replicates things I already pay for. It's basically like paying for another cell phone service when you already have a cell phone plan. The added benefits of BlueLink don't justify the price in my opinion, and if the car manufacturers truly wanted to add something for their customers, they would use customers existing cell phones instead of adding a completely new service with all the added cost. Someone mentioned Honda's HondaLink - which uses your existing cell phone - service is free, with similar capabilities to BlueLink.

With regards to the "murder and the OnStar button" story, one could say the same about always carrying a defibrillator. There will always be a story or anecdote about how something happened and something somehow saved someone. But unlike an airbag, a seat-belt or other safety equipment I don't think OnStar, BlueLink or other such services are a huge safety benefit. My phone can be set to call an emergency number when touching a button, that seems just as useful as having BlueLink do that for me, especially since most 911 services now have the ability to provide GPS location through E911 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_9-1-1). I actually assume that OnStar and BlueLink use a system similar to E911, maybe with slightly better accuracy.

Subscriptions are usually like high-interest payment plans - a bad deal for the consumer, with some notable exceptions. The only way companies will stop forcing the subscription model onto their customers is if we as customers refuse to play along.

 

[TEF]

Glad to read this thread. Had the trial subscription with the purchase of the car and never used Bluelink once. Before reading this, I thought it was only me that couldn't see a reason for this feature, so it's interesting to know that I am not the only one that considers Bluelink a waste of time and money. Given that most people have cell phones, it was difficult to justify its annual cost and even more if one uses his/her phone to remotely start the car. For some reason I cannot think of a scenario where this might be necessary. It's too bad that Hyundai didn't put the same effort into providing Android Auto and Apple Carplay to Ultimate buyers.

 

[NTX]

Why I use BlueLink:

1. App-based remote start from anywhere works on my iPhone, Android work phone, Android wear watch, Apple Watch, work iPad, personal iPad, and my Amazon Echo Dots throughout my home. No need to be close to the car to start it, cool it down, or warm it up. It's a nice convenience feature, if you use it. And, frankly, every car manufacturer is jumping into the IoT game, so more and more people will be using app-based remote start compared to fob-based remote start soon enough.

2. Google POI search integration. My maps may be almost 3 years old now, but I still get the latest POIs with Google, and quickly I might add. Sure, I could use Siri Eyes Free to call the name of that new restaurant I want to go to, but more often than not Google has the latest places well ahead of Apple. Plus, Google's voice recognition is second to none.

3. Automatic Crash Notification. Yes, some vehicles use your Bluetooth phone to "call 911" and relay information about your location, but the integrated versions are much better because they connect you with a live advisor who can actually talk to emergency services in real-time. It's great piece of mind, and frankly I won't buy another vehicle without it (though everyone is adding embedded modems into their cars for this...trust me - I work in telecom)

4. Panic Notification Alerts. If the car alarm ever goes off on my car, such as if someone presses the panic button, tries to break into it, or hits my car in a parking lot, I get an instant notification on all my devices that it happened with the exact address.

Sure, the price is a little steep on the entire BlueLink package...but then again we are driving a 50K vehicle. I can save money elsewhere by using regular fuel for my daily 10-minute commute to work.

 

[Seejay]

Bluelink and its "gravy train" IoT ilk made and supported by all car manufacturers is a security nightmare. One of the latest is a case where an IBM engineer can still remote a car with his phone that he no longer owns: http://wtkr.com/2017/02/18/why-buying-used-cars-could-put-your-safety-at-risk/
Until they fix stuff like this: https://securelist.com/analysis/publications/77576/mobile-apps-and-stealing-a-connected-car/, I am SO not interested.

 

[jstkrsn]

Let mine expire at the end of the trial period. Not worth the money for me.

 

[StarPower]

I do like the internet-based remote start, but it's about the only feature I routinely use. I never thought about it until I read this thread, but I clearly see how it's a way for Hyundai to milk more money out of their customers than the one-time expense for keyfob-based remote start.

The one benefit, though, is that most keyfobs don't have sufficient range for your car to be cooled off by the time you reach it. I can start mine from the computer in my office, and by the time I make it to the parking lot it's been running for long enough to be cooled off significantly.

Bluelink and its "gravy train" IoT ilk made and supported by all car manufacturers is a security nightmare. One of the latest is a case where an IBM engineer can still remote a car with his phone that he no longer owns: http://wtkr.com/2017/02/18/why-buying-used-cars-could-put-your-safety-at-risk/
Until they fix stuff like this: https://securelist.com/analysis/publications/77576/mobile-apps-and-stealing-a-connected-car/, I am SO not interested.

The BlueLink terms of service do state that they will refund on a pro-rated basis if you cancel your service, but I suspect that a lot of people don't think to do this when they sell their car. I also suspect that most people wouldn't go through the hassle of ensuring it's been cancelled/deactivated when they buy a new car.

 

[cuervoman]

After viewing this thread my question is this: When it expires I loose my traffic info in the NAV? I do not have XM radio either. Just not sure where my traffic updates come from. I have installed Android Auto and can always use it if I really need directions and traffic info.
And Waze is coming to AA soon.

 

[AustinTX]

After viewing this thread my question is this: When it expires I loose my traffic info in the NAV? I do not have XM radio either. Just not sure where my traffic updates come from. I have installed Android Auto and can always use it if I really need directions and traffic info.
And Waze is coming to AA soon.

I have the Ultimate package, so no AA/ACP for me. My BlueLink expired and I won't renew, but I do have XM with traffic and my Nav systems shows current traffic information (even though my maps are ancient, as in from early 2015 - which in Austin means lots of missing roads and changed highway connectors).

I believe AA with Google maps gives you updated road maps all the time, with traffic information.

 

[zeez]

I have the Ultimate package, so no AA/ACP for me. My BlueLink expired and I won't renew, but I do have XM with traffic and my Nav systems shows current traffic information (even though my maps are ancient, as in from early 2015 - which in Austin means lots of missing roads and changed highway connectors).

I believe AA with Google maps gives you updated road maps all the time, with traffic information.

Is there any way to just get the traffic and skip the radio component? That's really all I want from Sirius... couldn't care less about the radio.

 

[glennk]

Is there any way to just get the traffic and skip the radio component? That's really all I want from Sirius... couldn't care less about the radio.

I believe you have to get both. Tried the same thing years ago on my Acura and it was a no-go.

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!

 

[MikeyTG]

In my siriusxm account online, I have the "infotainment" package (traffic and travel link) for 3 years, came with the car. I have paid for a year of radio separately (trial was only 90 days), they are listed separately on the account. So it seems to me like they should be available separately.

 

[sparrk]

you can get just the traffic info from XM. it cost you 3.99 a month or 12 months for the price of 11 months.

 

[zeez]

you can get just the traffic info from XM. it cost you 3.99 a month or 12 months for the price of 11 months.

Thank you. Out of curiosity, the deal that people keep mentioning (6 months for $25 or $30) includes the traffic or doesn't ?

 

[myst]

I just renewed Connected Care & Remote for another year for $148.50 (25 % off = $74.25 + $74.25)
I use remote start almost everyday so paying $12/month isn't that bad. (also knowing that I can use it in case of emergency)
Just call bluelink from your car, ask for any promotion, then rep. will talk to manager and in my case it was 25% off.

And I also renewed 6 months of XM for $25 + tax around last Christmas.
I don't listen much so I wanted to cancel but they offer that as their last option before cancellation.

 

[pmckechnie]

I think some people are forgetting the purpose of the BlueLink service.
I don't think about all the frills when I pay the bill for BlueLink, I think of it as insurance.
Would you cancel your collision insurance when it comes due if you haven't used it in the last year?
I think of BlueLink as insurance/convenience that is good to have in an emergency.
If I am in a bad accident I want all the help I can get with out having to do it myself, which I may not be able to do.

Just my $.02 worth that is worth nothing.

 

[AustinTX]

I think some people are forgetting the purpose of the BlueLink service.
I don't think about all the frills when I pay the bill for BlueLink, I think of it as insurance.
Would you cancel your collision insurance when it comes due if you haven't used it in the last year?
I think of BlueLink as insurance/convenience that is good to have in an emergency.
If I am in a bad accident I want all the help I can get with out having to do it myself, which I may not be able to do.

Just my $.02 worth that is worth nothing.

Like I mentioned before, BlueLink only works when you are within a cell phone reception area. If you crash in the boonies (plenty of boonies here in Texas - lots of areas with no cell phone coverage), BlueLink is worth nothing.

If you crash in a more populated area, your chances of getting help through someone who witnessed your crash and called 911 or probably pretty fair.

BlueLink doesn't help where it would be the most useful - in areas with little traffic and this limited or no cell phone coverage.

I'm not trying to discourage people from having extra protection, I just want to make sure people understand that having BlueLink may give you a false sense of security. If you just went off the road somewhere in West Texas at 3 am in the morning with no traffic around, BlueLink is not going to help anymore than you also useless cell phone ...

My 2 cents, worth as much as your 2 cents ...

 

[pmckechnie]

Austin, you are correct. I know there are a lot of areas that don't have cell phone connections (that is what bluelink uses, just a cell connection). I know it is not perfect, but neither are the other alternatives.
for me, it does give me some sense of security, not perfect, but worth it to me.
This thread got started by the question What's the point of BlueLink? This is my answer.
By the way, we came through Austin TX in April 2012 on our way to California. Great state in April, not sure about August.

 

[glennk]

Austin, you are correct. I know there are a lot of areas that don't have cell phone connections (that is what bluelink uses, just a cell connection). I know it is not perfect, but neither are the other alternatives.
for me, it does give me some sense of security, not perfect, but worth it to me.
This thread got started by the question What's the point of BlueLink? This is my answer.
By the way, we came through Austin TX in April 2012 on our way to California. Great state in April, not sure about August.

lol!!! Texas in August is at 100F in the shade.

 

[PinkFloyd]

lol!!! Texas in August is at 100F in the shade.

I let mine run out last month (one year from purchase). I'll be tempted to pick it back up again when the weather gets "Texas hot" just to get the remote start. I'm still not all that jazzed about having to use an app to start the car with a timed range of 35 seconds to almost 3 minutes to actually start after giving the command. I prefer the way my last two cars did it with a simple combination of fob buttons.

 

[glennk]

I let mine run out last month (one year from purchase). I'll be tempted to pick it back up again when the weather gets "Texas hot" just to get the remote start. I'm still not all that jazzed about having to use an app to start the car with a timed range of 35 seconds to almost 3 minutes to actually start after giving the command. I prefer the way my last two cars did it with a simple combination of fob buttons.

Agreed. I can't justify the cost for that feature.