Connect+.... I call bullshit

[Cbristow]

I understand that providing data service to cars costs money, and I think it's appropriate to charge a nominal fee for that. Some of the Connect+ features should cost extra if Rivian incurs additional costs to provide them. I think Rivian made the right move in enabling some data features to continue if the user chooses to use a mobile data connection.

However...

Satellite maps uses existing data that is provided by Google. Rivian doesn't have to create this content, they merely forward it on. Not allowing satellite image data to come through is akin to not allowing music streaming through Alexa, which works just fine with a mobile hotspot.

I call bullshit.

Sponsored

 

[Redline]

Seems perfectly normal to me

 

[ElGuano]

Satellite maps uses existing data that is provided by Google. Rivian doesn't have to create this content, they merely forward it on. Not allowing satellite image data to come through is akin to not allowing music streaming through Alexa, which works just fine with a mobile hotspot.

Google Maps is actually a paid service. Rivian has to pay Google for the Maps API usage that users incur. Back in the heyday of Web 2.0, that was free (Google was covering the cost). But as of 2016ish, it's actually quite expensive:
https://mapsplatform.google.com/pricing/

There are enterprise/bulk rates that I'm sure Rivian and Uber and Tesla are paying, for sure. But it's a fundamental mistake to assume that because you can access satellite map imagery for free from a consumer web browser, that the same is true for a developer like Rivian integrating Maps into their third party service.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

They forward it on through, wait for it, INTERNET ACCESS. That’s what you’re paying for with connect plus. Is this really that difficult a concept?

 

[racekarl]

What you're really paying for with Connect+ is the LTE data connection. Image-based map basemaps (e.g. satellite/aerial photography) are much more data intensive then vector-based basemaps (e.g. road outlines). Makes total sense that they would limit the data consumed over the internet for free customers vs. paid ones. Not bullshit at all.

ETA: It's unclear if you are tethering or not - it makes sense if you are not tethering.

Also, these are not Google basemaps. Rivian uses Google for POI search, but the basemaps come from MapBox.

 

[ElGuano]

Also, these are not Google basemaps. Rivian uses Google for POI search, but the basemaps come from MapBox.

Good to know! And Mapbox isn't a free service for enterprise, either, regardless of the data carrier.
https://www.mapbox.com/pricing#maps

 

[dleepnw]

yeah, people need to get their heads out of the sand on the connect+ features/pricing. totally valid and reasonable.

 

[Supratachophobia]

yeah, people need to get their heads out of the sand on the connect+ features/pricing. totally valid and reasonable.

Here here, well said. But may I suggest we get our heads out of our tailpipes.

 

[MountainBikeDude]

I understand that providing data service to cars costs money, and I think it's appropriate to charge a nominal fee for that. Some of the Connect+ features should cost extra if Rivian incurs additional costs to provide them. I think Rivian made the right move in enabling some data features to continue if the user chooses to use a mobile data connection.

However...

Satellite maps uses existing data that is provided by Google. Rivian doesn't have to create this content, they merely forward it on. Not allowing satellite image data to come through is akin to not allowing music streaming through Alexa, which works just fine with a mobile hotspot.

I call bullshit.

They actually have to pay for use of satellite maps. Look it up.

 

[portdirect]

So before I go into this - we have two rivians, one is subscribed to connect+, and the other i just subscribed this morning. I've no objection to paying $150 a year for internet access with unlimited hotspot etc - we all should have known this day was coming - frankly we got an extra 10 months for free, in effect as I recall when we bought our 1st R1 in 2023, it was advertised as having free LTE until the end of the year.

What did take me back a bit this am, *before* I subscribed was the sheer number of things that no longer worked *despite* being tethered to my phones hotspot. I was rather surprised to see that Spotify, audible etc all directed me to connect+ rather than work over wifi. So its not just internet access we are paying for, but also the built in apps that rely on data. It seems like there is no value in using a phone as a hotspot without connect+ - as you are limited to bluetooth and radio for audio anyway - so you are paying for a lot more than just the backhaul/bandwidth and maps imagery.

 

[Nixapatfan]

Rivian should just raise the price of the truck by $1500 and say they are giving connect+ for 10 years, that way it stops all these threads. I personally like the choice of deciding if I want to pay for it or not but all these threads are getting a bit silly.

 

[godfodder0901]

What did take me back a bit this am, *before* I subscribed was the sheer number of things that no longer worked *despite* being tethered to my phones hotspot. I was rather surprised to see that Spotify, audible etc all directed me to connect+ rather than work over wifi. So its not just internet access we are paying for, but also the built in apps that rely on data. It seems like there is no value in using a phone as a hotspot without connect+ - as you are limited to bluetooth and radio for audio anyway - so you are paying for a lot more than just the backhaul/bandwidth and maps imagery.

This simply isn't true. I do not have Connect+ and use the apps via tethered phone every day. They all work great. If they don't work for you, something is wrong with your setup or carrier/plan.

 

[COdogman]

You say you understand it, but it doesn't sound like you understand it... Data and connecting to data costs money. They always said we would end up paying for that.

 

[DaveA]

This simply isn't true. I do not have Connect+ and use the apps via tethered phone every day. They all work great. If they don't work for you, something is wrong with your setup or carrier/plan.

Yes, setting up the automated hot spot connection via shortcut app with iPhone works seamlessly and Apple Music works great. I haven't tried Amazon Music with Alexa yet because wife can't remember her Amazon account password.

 

[portdirect]

This simply isn't true. I do not have Connect+ and use the apps via tethered phone every day. They all work great. If they don't work for you, something is wrong with your setup or carrier/plan.

Perhaps this is where the saltiness from some is coming from - I perhaps should have tried a reset before subscribing to see, but i can assure you, spotify, apple music, and audible all were non functional and directed me to the connect+ upgrade page when either tethered to my phone or on my homes wifi. I'm on 2024.35.0 firmware if it makes any difference - and to be fair there's been some weirdness going on with my truck ever since it came back from service recently:

Sponsored