Connect+.... I call bullshit

[gultin]

It's pretty clear on their site but here you go:

1. Satellite imagery
2. Rich POI search reaults
3. Gear Guard Live Cam

That's it.

Thanks! It wasn't quite clear to me from their website though what features would work via tether:
https://rivian.com/support/article/what-is-connect

Do you happen to have a Rivian.com link that I might've missed?

In any case, this Reddit post seems to be the best reference on this so far:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Rivian/s/pJ9fas7emm

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[gultin]

For those interested, I was able to use Tasker app for Android to automate this: to turn on my phone's hotspot on/off when phone's connected/disconnected from Rivian Audio. Seems to work reasonably well for Alexa and Spotify so far. I don't use Apple music or any of the other apps, so I didn't try those. I can also confirm that Satellite maps aren't working with the phone tether.

 

[jeepfreakedc]

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.

? agree.

 

[lefkonj]

8 years ago Audi charged for these services, so did BMW. Get over it or sell it.

 

[Supratachophobia]

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.

Keep in mind, that while at first glance, I think that's a crappy decision to lock the apps behind connect+. Rivian has licensing and API costs associated with those apps.

Knowing that, it helps understand their decision. Again, this turns their cost line item into a profit line item. This is good for everyone

 

[Webleyaz]

Just like crack, get a few freebies and you're hooked. Strangely, unlike crack which people have killed to get money to pay for, some won't pony up the 50 cents per day for something they apparently can't live without or they wouldn't be on here commiserating with their brethren.
It's a product, people. Buy it or don't.
BTW, where's all the RAN pricing bitching? That used to be free!

 

[waitingonanr1s]

Just like crack, get a few freebies and you're hooked. Strangely, unlike crack which people have killed to get money to pay for, some won't pony up the 50 cents per day for something they apparently can't live without or they wouldn't be on here commiserating with their brethren.
It's a product, people. Buy it or don't.
BTW, where's all the RAN pricing bitching? That used to be free!

Oh there was some bitching about charging at the RAN chargers too when that started - no where on this level though. This is ridiculous.

People just hate being given something for free and then being made to pay for it, regardless of how it's communicated up front. I guess companies should never give anything away for free that they want to one day charge for. These people would seriously be happier today if they had paid $15 per month from the purchase rather than getting all those months/years for free - so dumb.

 

[THarris1980]

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.

Have you been able to stream Apple Music/Spotify while tethered over the weekend? Tethering worked well for me last week until Friday afternoon when the pop up for Learning More about Connect+ popped up and now I cannot use the native apps despite being tethered. I Chatted with customer support and they told me the native apps require a subscription now which I pointed out is not what the Rivian website says in the section About Connect+.

 

[tate16t]

That pop-up appeared for me when I was not connected to the Internet. I tried tethering my iPhone and was able to stream Apple Music just fine.

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

This forum has devolved into the same 5 people yelling at people complaining. Way too much emotion and bragging about financial positions, etc… It’s bizarre.

 

[godfodder0901]

Have you been able to stream Apple Music/Spotify while tethered over the weekend? Tethering worked well for me last week until Friday afternoon when the pop up for Learning More about Connect+ popped up and now I cannot use the native apps despite being tethered. I Chatted with customer support and they told me the native apps require a subscription now which I pointed out is not what the Rivian website says in the section About Connect+.

Streamed Spotify the entire way to work, no problems whatsoever. I even used Alexa to control it.

 

[ThumprMN]

 

[underkuver]

Interesting thread indeed. Not in a rush to subscribe as our family uses Youtube Music (love for commercial free Youtube). Therefore, our phones are always the devices streaming music.

Data plans are unlimited at high speeds so have limited use for the Rivian connection aside from convenience to not turn on hotspot. That Tasker detail above is great!

My biggest complaint which keeps me away from the infotainment is Rivian's navigation. We have taken several family trips and find the only useful thing the car provides is using navigation to force the battery warming when public charging (maybe there is a better way?). Aside from this, I have no trust in the navigation either being correct compared to Google Maps/Waze, or even locating the correct charger. Even yesterday it tried to force me to an EVgo charger as it was 1/4 mile closer than the Tesla Supercharger which was programmed to the car from the app. Not sure I am ready to give up reliable traffic redirection and speed trap awareness so even the volume on the Rivian navigation remains off. Sounds like my vote is Android Auto for Connect+.

I did notice the lack of satellite imagery the day after the trial ran out. TBH, it might be a blessing though. ATT is weak in a lot of areas we drive and I have spent countless times watching the screen buffer refreshing the imagery or remain blank for a while.

As others have stated, everyone knew this day was coming. There is a good chance we purchase Connect+ simply for the satellite imagery after a few more days of boring maps.

However, I might cancel the R2 reservation if Rivian doesnt figure out driver+ in rural areas. My friends Tesla's can navigate everywhere. We might go weeks of driving before we see the driver+ icon pop up, only to force me back to manual mode 10-mins later....

 

[Greg Chick]

I clearly remember that there was going to be a charge after the grace period was up.
I as well think itemizing the expenses to operate a Rivian is better for everyone as expenses develop. An everything included package for 10 yrs. is a bit of a gamble or not realistic.

 

[Donald Stanfield]

This forum has devolved into the same 5 people yelling at people complaining. Way too much emotion and bragging about financial positions, etc… It’s bizarre.

And now you’re complaining about my complaining. Such is the circle of life.

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