Does anybody have good technical knowledge of how the 2014 cellular AcuraLink works?

Nobody to whom I've spoken seems really sure.

For it to work universally, I'd imagine it would have to be AT&T or Verizon connection, somehow, is that right?

 

Does anybody subscribe to the extra "On Star-like" services?

I am thinking about it.

 

^^^
I believe you get a 90-day free trial subscription with purchasing the vehicle?

 

They didn't tell me that. Just that I had basic AcuraLink for 3 years.

 

You do get a 3 month trial. Call acura and they will set up. I might keep the 99/ year which shows you car info on your phone. The concierge I will not be keeping. Its a waste for me and expensive.

 

Thanks. I signed up but the trial was for the Premium service so I have to remember to call and step back if I don't see any use for the Acura Concierge.

I am making quite a bit of use of AcuraLink to get addresses for the navigation system. People who complain about the steps you have to go through to set an address in Acura NAV might be pleased with the natural language interface of AcuraLink.

You can blurt out the entire street address and town, AcuraLink reads it back to you, and then sends it to your navigation system.

I'm still curious whose cell towers they're using for this, and how they try to be sure of a close to universal coverage.

 

Whoa, I didn't know it could do this. I always thought the Concierge (or the Acuralink iPhone app) were the only ways to get an address downloaded to the car.

I'll need to check this out more closely. The Premium service is mainly useful for me for the Acuralink iPhone app integration and the realtime traffic nav update/info.

 

Has anybody ever failed to connect with AcuraLink when wanted?

I'm surprised that so far in my travels, a combination of rural and metro situations, it's performed 100% of the time.

 

Nope, has worked every time I've used it.

 

http://owners.acura.com/acuralink/faqs

"There are three subscription levels for AcuraLink The Next Generation: the Standard package, Connect package and Premium package. You can also take advantage of our 90-Day Free Trial of AcuraLink Premium†, which gives you access to the entire suite of AcuraLink services.

The Standard package includes cloud-enhanced navigation with continuously updated traffic data for freeways and surface streets—all at no additional cost for the first three years of ownership.

Subscribing to the Connect package activates the vehicle’s onboard cellular transceiver, which allows the vehicle to send and receive voice and data communications. With the Connect package you can log in to a virtual dashboard using a smartphone, tablet or computer. You can lock or unlock the doors, get an alert if the alarm is going off, check tire and fuel level status, even sound the horn and flash the headlights.

The Connect package also provides in-vehicle roadside assistance and emergency service requests at the press of a button and automatic request for emergency response services. In any crash that causes an airbag to deploy, your Acura can automatically contact AcuraLink. Agents will attempt to contact you and request that local authorities dispatch help to your location.

Please note: If your vehicle is unable to make a cellular connection due to signal strength, location or other technical difficulty, Connect and Assist features will not work and automatic request for emergency response services will not occur. Neither Acura nor affiliated service providers can control whether emergency responders will respond to any request for emergency services or do so in a timely manner.

The Premium package delivers on demand, live support from a personal assistant, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. AcuraLink agents can make hotel, restaurant or travel reservations, search for locations and send directions directly to your vehicle’s navigation system.

The easiest way to enroll in AcuraLink The Next Generation is to simply press the “Link” button on the overhead console. You can also call AcuraLink support at 877-375-2638 or contact your Acura dealer."

Can I send directions from my smartphone, tablet or computer to my vehicle’s navigation system?

Yes. If you have a Connect or Premium subscription, you can use the Connect app or a web interface to plot a course or find a destination and send it directly to your vehicle.

 

wow, they must have changed the package options and tiers, because when I signed up, you couldn't get traffic/nav info without going to Premium. Looks like for what I use it for, I can drop my service down to Connect.