How are phone calls and texts handled?

[CommodoreAmiga]

Exactly, so why not on a Rivian?

Because Rivian has made a deliberate decision not to integrate.

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[moosehead]

From the department of redundancy department:

Our Hyundai I5, which cost half that of the Rivian, has a nicely working PAAK fob that stays in one’s pocket, handles voice commands well, audibly reads texts and can respond in same, integrates music via usb cable, and has this bleeding edge tech that mirrors one’s personal cell phone/computer called Carplay. It also boasts 800v battery architecture, paddle shifting regen modes, manual air vents, and, wait for it, snow mode.

 

[R1TinTexas]

I took delivery Friday and am shocked at how bad the phone integration is. I understand these are "adventure vehicles" but to afford one I imagine most of us have a job and end up doing conference calls and taking texts at least 5 days a week.

Is anyone aware of a formal owner request to Rivian to highlight the deficiencies and get them addressed? (e.g. phone integration, poor wireless phone charging, sub-optimal app - which is supposedly being addressed)

 

[Dark-Fx]

I took delivery Friday and am shocked at how bad the phone integration is. I understand these are "adventure vehicles" but to afford one I imagine most of us have a job and end up doing conference calls and taking texts at least 5 days a week.

Thankfully my job doesn't require me to answer the phone nor texts while I'm driving. No job should.

 

[a76marine]

Because Rivian has made a deliberate decision not to integrate.

Likely a component of the contract by Amazon to purchase all of the delivery vans, that RIvian would build their AI using Amazon Alexa instead.

 

[SoCal Rob]

Likely a component of the contract by Amazon to purchase all of the delivery vans, that RIvian would build their AI using Amazon Alexa instead.

If that’s their plan then can people use Rivian’s implementation of Alexa for hands-free eyes-free text messaging where text messages are read to the driver and the driver can reply using voice dictation? My understanding is that isn’t possible yet.

 

[mabowden]

If that’s their plan then can people use Rivian’s implementation of Alexa for hands-free eyes-free text messaging where text messages are read to the driver and the driver can reply using voice dictation? My understanding is that isn’t possible yet.

I'm quick shocked something like this isn't possible, when there are 6-10 year old econoboxes out there that have this technology. Pretty big miss on Rivian's front. I'm sure it will be fixed at some point, but still.

 

[a76marine]

I'm quick shocked something like this isn't possible, when there are 6-10 year old econoboxes out there that have this technology. Pretty big miss on Rivian's front. I'm sure it will be fixed at some point, but still.

Heck, there are online courses to learn how to program Amazon Alexa and create new "skills" that she can handle. If we here in the Forums had someone savvy enough we could probably do it ourselves.

https://www.udemy.com/course/advanced-alexa-skill-development/

 

[SoCal Rob]

I'm quick shocked something like this isn't possible, when there are 6-10 year old econoboxes out there that have this technology. Pretty big miss on Rivian's front. I'm sure it will be fixed at some point, but still.

Yeah, I’m not going to say that Rivian needs to accomplish this via a specific technology, but hands-free eyes-free text handling is so basic at this point it is silly that we even need to question its presence.

The last new car I bought for myself was a 2017 Ford Fusion Energi PHEV and the much-maligned Ford Sync it had handled this fine. That means that five years ago I could have used Ford’s system while also having a choice of two other technologies which would have accomplished the same thing, depending upon the phone platform I used. Right now Rivian doesn’t have it built-in and pointedly chooses to ignore the other technologies which would do the heavy lifting for them.

If Rivian wants to use Alexa then they should develop capabilities in-house, or encourage others to develop Rivian-compatible Alexa skills which permit this. If Rivian could get part of the infotainment screen to emulate an Echo Show and allow developers to create compatible skills then they could demonstrate that Alexa is capable of providing a full-featured in-car experience. Then they could establish a Rivian certification process (MFR = Made For Rivian?) for those skills and monetize the value added service of giving owners a curated list of skills meant to work harmoniously with the Rivian ecosystem. Skill developers could get compensated for developing popular skills and Rivian could take a cut for making sure the skills are automotive grade.

I don’t think I’m suggesting anything new here, but Rivian just needs to do something to at least bring the basic communications capabilities into something like 5 years ago. It’s not like people are asking Rivian to add a CD player or tape deck which were once ubiquitous and are now absent in new cars. My mom is 85 and my youngest niece is 17 and they both text. This isn’t going away any time soon and Rivian ignoring the need isn’t going to change that.

 

[SoCal Rob]

Heck, there are online courses to learn how to program Amazon Alexa and create new "skills" that she can handle. If we here in the Forums had someone savvy enough we could probably do it ourselves.

https://www.udemy.com/course/advanced-alexa-skill-development/

Exactly! Of course Rivian says they want a revenue stream from keeping the UX to themselves. Fine, then copy Apple‘s model and let owners buy or subscribe to the skills so developers are encouraged to $upport Rivian vehicle$ and Rivian gets a cut for making sure the skills meet their standards. Rivian could blaze the trail for Alexa Auto or Carlexa or whatever they want to call it…

 

[mabowden]

Yeah, I’m not going to say that Rivian needs to accomplish this via a specific technology, but hands-free eyes-free text handling is so basic at this point it is silly that we even need to question its presence.

The last new car I bought for myself was a 2017 Ford Fusion Energi PHEV and the much-maligned Ford Sync it had handled this fine. That means that five years ago I could have used Ford’s system while also having a choice of two other technologies which would have accomplished the same thing, depending upon the phone platform I used. Right now Rivian doesn’t have it built-in and pointedly chooses to ignore the other technologies which would do the heavy lifting for them.

If Rivian wants to use Alexa then they should develop capabilities in-house, or encourage others to develop Rivian-compatible Alexa skills which permit this. If Rivian could get part of the infotainment screen to emulate an Echo Show and allow developers to create compatible skills then they could demonstrate that Alexa is capable of providing a full-featured in-car experience. Then they could establish a Rivian certification process (MFR = Made For Rivian?) for those skills and monetize the value added service of giving owners a curated list of skills meant to work harmoniously with the Rivian ecosystem. Skill developers could get compensated for developing popular skills and Rivian could take a cut for making sure the skills are automotive grade.

I don’t think I’m suggesting anything new here, but Rivian just needs to do something to at least bring the basic communications capabilities into something like 5 years ago. It’s not like people are asking Rivian to add a CD player or tape deck which were once ubiquitous and are now absent in new cars. My mom is 85 and my youngest niece is 17 and they both text. This isn’t going away any time soon and Rivian ignoring the need isn’t going to change that.

Yep- this is exactly how I feel. I will use "hey siri" as a stopgap, but that is absolutely more dangerous to use while driving than having something screen based.

Just a very odd choice to not have something native to the OS that is compatible with this. I did not know this was a missing feature until now (just assumed if my 6 year old vw could handle it then Rivian should be able to...)

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

Heck, there are online courses to learn how to program Amazon Alexa and create new "skills" that she can handle. If we here in the Forums had someone savvy enough we could probably do it ourselves.

I believe Rivian has to "enable" the skill. Alexa offers Apple Music skills for other devices, but they don't work in the Rivian.

 

[R1TinTexas]

Thankfully my job doesn't require me to answer the phone nor texts while I'm driving. No job should.

I envy you. I work in healthcare and when I get notified of an emergency, I have to respond regardless of whether I'm driving, in the bath, sleeping or watching the Super Bowl.

 

[R1TinTexas]

I'm trying to use Alexa as much as possible and found it to be very uncooperative. I signed into my Amazon account and got it to do one or two things but every time since then it tells me it's not connected to the internet. Anyone else had this issue?

 

[yizzung]

From the department of redundancy department:

Our Hyundai I5, which cost half that of the Rivian, has a nicely working PAAK fob that stays in one’s pocket, handles voice commands well, audibly reads texts and can respond in same, integrates music via usb cable, and has this bleeding edge tech that mirrors one’s personal cell phone/computer called Carplay. It also boasts 800v battery architecture, paddle shifting regen modes, manual air vents, and, wait for it, snow mode.

You had me going right up until you said "Our Hyundai..."

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