Connect+.... I call bullshit

[Blueassassin]

Hey at least they aren't charging you to use the heated seats in the car... ya im looking at you BMW

The cost isn't worth it to me until they give us YouTube and more then I will probably sign up but the cost is not unjustified like other manufactures have been. Toyota and their remote start for instance.

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[djsider2]

Stop whining… Tesla does exactly the same thing… More data is consumed to render the satellite images… And whether you agree with it or not, they’ve been consistently saying what was going to happen since the start

In the OPs scenario, the car is not using the data connection Rivian provides. It’s connecting via WiFi to the drivers phone. Whether it’s more or less data, the car is using the phone plan the driver is paying for, not the LTE connection from the car.

 

[godfodder0901]

In the OPs scenario, the car is not using the data connection Rivian provides. It’s connecting via WiFi to the drivers phone. Whether it’s more or less data, the car is using the phone plan the driver is paying for, not the LTE connection from the car.

Thats not why Rivian pay-walls those features. It's because it costs Rivian money to provide those features, even sans data transport costs.

 

[stormbreaker]

just delete this thread.....cool?

 

[ealberton]

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.

I get that pop up as well, but as soon as I turn on my hotspot, I get full connectivity and the native apps work on the screen as they should. Not just Bluetooth through my phone. As seen on another thread I set up a shortcut on my iPhone that as soon as BT connects to the Rivian it turns on the hotspot and then that connects. So Teathering does work..FYI

 

[Noplacelikeloam]

Some customer will always want more . . . They are the statistic that is considered, not material. Move on . . .

 

[portdirect]

I get that pop up as well, but as soon as I turn on my hotspot, I get full connectivity and the native apps work on the screen as they should. Not just Bluetooth through my phone. As seen on another thread I set up a shortcut on my iPhone that as soon as BT connects to the Rivian it turns on the hotspot and then that connects. So Teathering does work..FYI

Yeah - Think it must have been a glitch, it would not let me out of the 'loop' - unfortunately I can't check now as Ive subscribed (which I was always gonna do anyway).

 

[goldburger]

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 also don’t allow enhanced Google places info and photos. They need to add random stuff like this to make connect+ seem like it has important stuff when really it has very little. These are super low value things imo and losing them isn’t much of a loss.

 

[godfodder0901]

They also don’t allow enhanced Google places info and photos. They need to add random stuff like this to make connect+ seem like it has important stuff when really it has very little.

No, it's because they cost Rivian money to provide.

 

[Ladiver]

As an aside, Rivian uses my WiFi for most of these uploads, which I pay for. Is Rivian going to pay me for the use of my bandwidth? I don’t use Driver+ so I don’t get much value from it otherwise. They’re monetizing my camera data, they could at least give me free LTE.

An easy solution to this is to use a firewall and block network access to their servers. This will force them to use their cellular connection or your tethered phone. ?

 

[irvineboy]

My connection is slow as hell when I connect my iPad and phone to the connect+ hotspot. What’s going on? Anyone else experience turtle speeds?

 

[djsider2]

Thats not why Rivian pay-walls those features. It's because it costs Rivian money to provide those features, even sans data transport costs.

Understood. But the reply was for someone saying it’s solely because satellite takes more bandwidth… not because of licensing costs.

 

[djsider2]

An easy solution to this is to use a firewall and block network access to their servers. This will force them to use their cellular connection or your tethered phone. ?

When I start paying for Connect+, I’m disconnecting it from my WiFi at home. Assuming they add enough worthwhile features soon.

 

[DA R1S]

Hey at least they aren't charging you to use the heated seats in the car... ya im looking at you BMW

The cost isn't worth it to me until they give us YouTube and more then I will probably sign up but the cost is not unjustified like other manufactures have been. Toyota and their remote start for instance.

I’m in a similar boat - having put in a deposit in and waiting 2+ years to get the vehicle, I have been very happy with it. That said, some of the comments from others are hard to square and leave me to wonder if Rivian reps aren’t replying vs actual consumers. Upon demo and delivery, my vehicle was installed with satellite map views. It is the first screen shown and was featured by the sales rep on both the demo and delivery. I don’t need or want the “new” Connect+ services and simply wanted to keep what the vehicle was originally installed with. I certainly wasn’t sold the vehicle based on a promo period navigation functionality. The notion that “you can afford it” or “other people do it” rings hollow to me. We are talking about $1.5k+ for a use over 10-years. Customer service refers to a buried clause in their purchase agreement that they will notify us of charges in the future for in vehicle functionality. However, what is different is to push an en masse downgrade across their entire fleet unless I pay $150 per year for something the vehicle was sold with and based on. They already use my WiFi to push updates, give them location information, sell/provide that info to a host of parties and use the functionality for their own purposes based on a bulk enterprise data arrangement. It seems a bald effort to scrape $15-$30mm into their currently delivered fleet annually and if not downgrade their functionality. Again, I have no issue with a charge for new services of value, only the point that they actually pushed a downgrade to satellite maps. Certainly doesn’t inspire loyalty and a bit like Apple saying “just kidding” if you want to use the functionality your phone came with, you have have to pay for it annually now. Maybe, maybe it is legal, but certainly doesn’t inspire loyalty vs “buyer beware”

 

[DA R1S]

I’m in a similar boat - having put in a deposit in and waiting 2+ years to get the vehicle, I have been very happy with it. That said, some of the comments from others are hard to square and leave me to wonder if Rivian reps aren’t replying vs actual consumers. Upon demo and delivery, my vehicle was installed with satellite map views. It is the first screen shown and was featured by the sales rep on both the demo and delivery. I don’t need or want the “new” Connect+ services and simply wanted to keep what the vehicle was originally installed with. I certainly wasn’t sold the vehicle based on a promo period navigation functionality. The notion that “you can afford it” or “other people do it” rings hollow to me. We are talking about $1.5k+ for a use over 10-years. Customer service refers to a buried clause in their purchase agreement that they will notify us of charges in the future for in vehicle functionality. However, what is different is to push an en masse downgrade across their entire fleet unless I pay $150 per year for something the vehicle was sold with and based on. They already use my WiFi to push updates, give them location information, sell/provide that info to a host of parties and use the functionality for their own purposes based on a bulk enterprise data arrangement. It seems a bald effort to scrape $15-$30mm into their currently delivered fleet annually and if not downgrade their functionality. Again, I have no issue with a charge for new services of value, only the point that they actually pushed a downgrade to satellite maps. Certainly doesn’t inspire loyalty and a bit like Apple saying “just kidding” if you want to use the functionality your phone came with, you have have to pay for it annually now. Maybe, maybe it is legal, but certainly doesn’t inspire loyalty vs “buyer beware”

Also, under the same logic they could charge us to access almost anything in vehicle - see your electronically provided road speed, access back-up cameras, drive mode changes, etc. Slmkst everything about the vehicle architecture is electronically in vehicle controlled and provided. Slippery slope a Company could drive, say, a Rivian R1S size hole through…..

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