Broadband Internet for Cars a New Frontier for VC Investment? I Prefer Shittr
One of my readers forwarded me a tweet from one of my favorite VCs, Fred Wilson:
Thinking that the FCC’s ‘white space’ decision means broadband internet in cars in 3-5 yrs. Agreed or not?
For those who aren’t aware, the Federal Communications Commission has approved a measure that will make the unused “white space” portion of the spectrum available for broadband use.
This apparently has Wilson interested in the possibility that broadband Internet will be available in cars in the near future.
Now I’m no expert in public transportation, but I will observe the following:
- Most people don’t know how to drive.
- Cell phones do not help.
- Texting while driving a train is dangerous therefore texting while operating a vehicle that isn’t on a fixed track probably isn’t a good idea either.
Given these things, it logically follows that making the Internets available in cars is probably not a good idea. In fact, it probably makes about as much sense safety-wise as putting stripper poles in airplane cockpits.
In other words, it’s asking for trouble.
Of course, some will say “Don’t forget about the passengers!” To which I reply: if your passengers cannot handle a trip to White Castle to pick up some fucking hamburgers without needing to check their GMail account or update their MySpace page, please remove those passengers from your vehicle immediately. They are assholes and could probably use a little exercise too.
So to answer Fred Wilson’s tweet: ignore automobiles.
I believe that broadband Internet access in public bathrooms is where the real money is at. Pretty soon, you probably won’t even have an auto industry anyway (unless GM becomes Government Motors) and the Japanese and Koreans don’t need one of your portfolio companies to build in-car Internet devices (I’m pretty sure they’re pretty good at manufacturing these types of things themselves).
I’d much prefer to walk into a public bathroom, enter a stall, close the door, sit down on the crapper and have an Internet-enabled device readily accessible. Who knows – it might be the only time I’m inclined to use all the wonderful consumer Internet services you’ve invested in.
Who wouldn’t want to use Shittr? After all, Robert Scoble is your 24/7 connection to the “business” of technology.
Actually, I think you misunderstand the benefits of wifi in cars. It’s not about using your laptop and being able to surf the web (this service already exists and there’s 2 providers in US), it’s about connecting cars to precisely prevent accidents.
Being connected to the internet will allow your car to use web-based applications that go way beyond your tom-tom GPS features.
For example, a recent study from Dr. Dirk Helbing (Dresde, Germany) is transposing the amazing intelligence of ants when regulating their own traffic into interactivec communication between cars that will happen through the web and therefore wifi.
Toyota is also experimenting pod-cars that drive by themselves (no more dedicated driver needed after a booze). These ‘robot’ pod-cars will be self-aware of their location but also of other cars around, preventing any collision. All that thanks to wifi.
While I agree distractions cause many accidents, and surfing while driving shouldn’t be permitted, just figure what also this could bring: no more drivers, only back seats where to relax while… surfing the net. This should be possible within 30 years max.
Steve: I don’t want my car “connected” to other cars. We don’t need Kelly’s Blue Book to become some sort of social network for cars.
I get from Point A to Point B just fine right now. The last thing I need is the Blue Screen of Death keeping me from getting to the restaurant.
I see some opportunities. What if our GPS screens displayed blips representing each car on the road with tags that display destinations? If people knew why others were driving the way they were, they might be more tolerant. For example “Hospital — Having Baby” or even “Downtown — Urgent Meeting” would gain leeway at least from the tags that read “Park — Picnic”. I think minding the fast lane and slow lane assignments would have to happen too. It’s fun to dream…