Subscribed

Picked up my nav/connect plus equipped car back in May; SIM card was not provided/installed. Once I hit 2k miles I'll go in for an early oil change and have the SIM card installed.

 

My experience. I did receive a trial sim card. Online Search/traffic/google earth were all operated by the data plan via SIM card. Once that trial "plan" ended the "Car Connect" app continued to work. I went to T-Mobile, bought a SIM card and data plan today and installed it. All is working again. Traffic/Google Earth/Online Search had stopped working.

I believe it is all a mixture of paying for the data and paying Porsche to host the services.

 

I did receive a trial sim card.

How long was the trial period for the SIM?

 

For USA vehicles, it Looks like there are additional fees on top of the $155/year for the 14 services in the car PCM (google earth/street view etc).

After the trial period there are seperate annual fees for the functionality on the iphone side in the Car Connect App: "remote services" ($119), "safety services" ($159), and "security services" ($219) with bundled discounts if you subscribe to multiple services.

Here's the link: https://pcc.cobratelematics.com/cwp/login.do

And definitions of those services:

Remote Services:
Function summary
Remote trip statistics
Remote vehicle status
Car finder
Remote door locking
Geo-fence

Safety Services:
Airbag deployment notification
Breakdown call with telematics data transmission


Security Services:
The Security Service is a vehicle tracking system that triggers a silent theft alarm in response to predefined events. This alarm is sent to a 24-hour Security Operating Centre (SOC), which then contacts you, locates the vehicle and has it located and recovered in cooperation with local authorities. You can also report a theft using the app or by making a phone call.

Advanced theft detection (sabotage, unauthorized movement, jamming etc.)
24/7 service in 36 European countries, Russia, South Africa, USA and Canada
Alert notification via SMS and push notification
Remote access via mobile app to mode setting (e.g. transportation mode)
Theft reporting via mobile APP

Security Service Plus (requires security package option)
Insurance approval (Thatcham Category 5, SCM, INCERT etc.)
Automatic Driver Recognition (ADR) with driver card
Voluntary theft declaration
By using the slider on the APP, the user will be connected directly to an SOC operative in order to delclare a theft.

I believe Security Services Plus is not for the US market.

 

Indeed, it does appear that there are as many as 4 subscriptions required if you want to keep all the Connected doodads working after the trial period. As @Queequeg shows above, the progressive pricing of the Car Connect Services is not to imply that if you opt for the *Safety Service* package that it also comes with the cheaper *Remote Services* package. Nope, these are exclusive, discrete subscriptions. And if you act now, all three can be had for the low, low price of $299/year. But wait, for only $155/year more ($454/year), we'll throw in Google Earth, Street View, and 12 other *useful* features (that presumably leech off your own data connection).

Interested in how many people find these vital/useful and intend to keep some or all of these services running after the trial period. My vote: pass on all.

 

Amazing how one only finds this out here.....no mention anywhere on the porsche site or at the dealer. I still don't understand what I'm getting with connect +. I thought all I needed was a connection and/or sim and I could get google earth/street view/etc. Now I'm very confused. Is there an additional fee from Porsche?

 

I'm still trying to make sense of it, but all signs point to $155/year (after the 12 month trial) to keep the Googles working- plus the need for a user-suppled data connection.

 

...And if you still have too much disposable income and love subscriptions, SiriusXM wants you.

 

My guess is that regardless of having an active data plan, once your free year is up, access to the server that the PCM accesses for the 14 Navigation and Infotainment Services will be severed. I do not think the PCM is pulling directly from Google or open webservices- that these are being packaged/bundled through a provider that wants your $155/year.

 

What bothers me is the subscription requirement for what I thought, based on literature provided and the website, was included (states "Includes") in Connect Plus, @ $1,300, is actually not. Turns out it is included for a year with the obvious need for a user-supplied data connection. Based on the configurator, only Car Connect is subscription based and other services traffic, online search, etc. appear to only require a data connection.

Navigation Module for Porsche Communication Management (PCM)

Includes:

Hard drive containing 3D map display and 3D navigation map supporting city and terrain models with satellite image overlay, dynamic route calculation, advanced dynamic route guidance based on various traffic flow data (only possible with internet data connection via Porsche Connect Plus option), automatic route tracing, and subsequent reverse route navigation. Navigation by compass and GPS in regions not covered by map data.

Porsche Connect Plus

Includes:

Apple CarPlay™
4G LTE Module
Updatable onboard maps (first 3 years)
AT&T SIM Card Data Trial
Google® StreetView
Google® Earth
Online Destination Search
Real Time Traffic Information
Porsche Car Connect

Porsche Car Connect provides a host of useful additional functions for monitoring of selected information and remote control of selected functions of your Porsche vehicle using the Porsche Car Connect smartphone app, which you can download free from Apple® iTunes® app store for IOS® device and Google Play™ app store for Android® devices.

When activated, functions which may be selected are Remote, Safety, and Security Services incl. Porsche Vehicle Tracking System Services. The Remote Services would provide you trip statistics, vehicle status, door locking capability, as well as the location of your vehicle. The Safety Services would provide you emergency assistance in an event of an airbag deployment or a breakdown of the vehicle. The Security Services would trigger a silent alarm to the Security Operating Center (SOC) on unauthorized movement of your vehicle and track the vehicle in an event of theft. The SOC would then report and support the local authority in the recovery of your vehicle. Activation of Porsche Car Connect requires a service contract between you and a third-party service provider at an additional cost which is your responsibility. A trial period at initial retail delivery is offered at no cost for selected functionalities. Detailed information on Porsche Car Connect can be found at Porsche Connect. Please note: The Porsche Car Connect app may not work with all versions of the iOS® or Android® operating systems. The usage of Porsche Car Connect may be subject to network service charges from your mobile device network service provider. The availability of Porsche Car Connect services is dependent on the wireless network coverage which may not be available in all areas. The vehicle equipment necessary to use Porsche Car Connect is only available factory-installed, and cannot be retrofitted.

Note:
Available only for PCM with Navigation.

 

Porsche is pretty far out on a limb here.....non disclosure is pretty serious. It's not the $155.....it's the principal of how Porsche does business in the US.....first the voice feature fiasco that continues to this day....and now this "hidden" charge. As far as I know, all of the info pointed to above is new.....after ordering the car/feature. Since I have time on my hands, this might be a small claims court activity, if not a consumer protection issue....we'll see how I feel...and what the truth is.

 

or a Class Action lawsuit....let's get this baby going! :|

 

I would say first we need a thorough understanding of what we actually bought in the Connect or Connect Plus packages. It seems parts of it are very much like OnStar and other similar systems- however OnStar makes no secret about its subscription nature and does not charge a premium for the installed hardware. It's incorporated in every (I believe) GM car and looked at as an additional revenue vector. With Connect/Plus, we're led to believe that we're buying these capabilities, when in fact, we're buying the receiving end for pay services. Like buying a Tivo.

@ghstudio I think the evidence was always there, just not well communicated. HOWEVER, if the Google services are indeed behind a paywall, maybe that might not jibe with Google's Usage Guidelines. Though Google does mention they have some arrangements for *commercial purposes.*

 

Following is what is currently posted in the USA configurator....and it has changed recently.

Includes:

Apple CarPlay™
4G LTE Module
Updatable onboard maps (first 3 years)
AT&T SIM Card Data Trial
Google® StreetView
Google® Earth
Online Destination Search
Real Time Traffic Information
Porsche Car Connect

Porsche Car Connect provides a host of useful additional functions for monitoring of selected information and remote control of selected functions of your Porsche vehicle using the Porsche Car Connect smartphone app, which you can download free from Apple® iTunes® app store for IOS® device and Google Play™ app store for Android® devices.

When activated, functions which may be selected are Remote, Safety, and Security Services incl. Porsche Vehicle Tracking System Services. The Remote Services would provide you trip statistics, vehicle status, door locking capability, as well as the location of your vehicle. The Safety Services would provide you emergency assistance in an event of an airbag deployment or a breakdown of the vehicle. The Security Services would trigger a silent alarm to the Security Operating Center (SOC) on unauthorized movement of your vehicle and track the vehicle in an event of theft. The SOC would then report and support the local authority in the recovery of your vehicle. Activation of Porsche Car Connect requires a service contract between you and a third-party service provider at an additional cost which is your responsibility. A trial period at initial retail delivery is offered at no cost for selected functionalities. Detailed information on Porsche Car Connect can be found at Porsche Connect. Please note: The Porsche Car Connect app may not work with all versions of the iOS® or Android® operating systems. The usage of Porsche Car Connect may be subject to network service charges from your mobile device network service provider. The availability of Porsche Car Connect services is dependent on the wireless network coverage which may not be available in all areas. The vehicle equipment necessary to use Porsche Car Connect is only available factory-installed, and cannot be retrofitted.


NOTE:

Porsche Car Connect is a separate line...it does not include items above which are separate. Google Earth, streetview, etc are NOT part of Porsche Car Connect....they are included in the Connect +package and there is no mention of any additional fee for accessing them, over and above providing connectivity. Porsche is way way out on a limb if they intend to charge users for accessing those features. I understand the charge for the Porsche Car connect features...find the car, etc....but not for google features. I posted here to create a legal record of the page contents and description. Also note that the suggested web page for more information applies only to Porsche Car Connect, but not to the features listed above it in the list of what's included.

I have no interest in any of the Porsche Car connect features mentioned....I purchased for google stuff and real time traffic which aren't part of Porsche Car Connect.

I really don't like the way Porsche does business....the VW/Porsche/Audi group seems to run very loose with their customers....and it's already costing them $billions...just with the diesel mess.

 

Also note that the suggested web page for more information applies only to Porsche Car Connect, but not to the features listed above it in the list of what's included.

I have no interest in any of the Porsche Car connect features mentioned....I purchased for google stuff and real time traffic which aren't part of Porsche Car Connect.

Right. However, there are discrete service offerings that go by similar names:

1. Connect App Services (Connect Plus Only)
- App Destination
- Calendar
- Real-time Traffic Information
- Premium Music Services and Internet Radio

2. Navigation and Infotainment Services (Connect Plus Only)

3. Car Connect Services (Connect and Connect Plus)

From the information I can find, #1 is the only one that does not have an ongoing subscription charge- however it does require you to provide it a data connection. Though I could be totally wrong about that.

#2 includes Google Earth and Street View and there is a link to the annual subscription charge. The interesting part is this is where the map updates appears- which supposedly 3 years of map updates are included per the description in Post #1 5. How do you get 3 years of map updates if you don't buy the $155/year service plan??

#3 has 3 separate subscriptions which can be had as a bundle for $299/year- or a la carte as described here.

It would be great if PCNA or someone authoritative could provide some clarity, but I think after all this discussion, we're figuring it out. And it don't look pretty.

 

3 months or 3gb

 

Thanks!

Any feel for data consumption per hour or per month? I know there are a lot of variables, since there are probably fewer map/traffic updates with local drives and less data consumed if devices are not tethered to the PCM or weather, news, twitter are not in use... Just trying to get a gauge on what the ongoing data costs.

 

I do not use Google Earth and I mainly stream Spotify @ 320k for about 3 hrs. a day and that runs around 1-2GB a month, maybe 3-4 if I am listening entirely to music not download to my iPhone via Wi-FI at home.

 

This is an interesting topic. I bought the navigation package, since I hope to do some touring. My old car (Mazda CX-5) had navigation with built in traffic at no charge, and worked well. From all I can tell the Macan wants a data plan on your phone coupled to the car or a SIM card. So far I am behaving like a luddite and refusing to further line the pockets of the telephone companies with my money for a data plan. It is a nice to have, not a necessity. I have been curious if I need a SIM card what the monthly costs will run.

 

I did go ahead and installed a SIM card with data, in my GTS, - connected my Android phone and found...NOTHING!!!
The screen in the car does not even show any Google, or Google services, connections, maps etc.


So I contacted my SA, - just to be told that all those services are not, currently, yet, being offered in Canada, - at all! And there's not even an expected time if/when those are going to be introduced here..!


Therefore, why were we offered, and charged, those expensive options to begin with, when there is no potential, at all, for utilizing them?

 

I can report on this more soon. AT&T gave you no way to look at usage on the trial plan.

 

That sounds good! If it's dedicated to your Macan.

The only way I ever knew what my usage in my Audis was because the MMI in each car actually has a data mgr and reports usage per period, which of course I was free to reset at anytime. I chose monthly. Nothing like that in PCM that I can find and my At&t bill will lump all of that SIMs usage together so as I move it from device-to-device the only way to know what bandwidth a device is sucking up is for that device to have a its own data-manager so to speak.

Like everything else tech-related, and though Porsche has made a huge move with PCM 4 (uh, finally?), they've still left out services, some critical, some so not so much, that other makers have had for years.

 

I'm thinking that the Porsche Connect Plus description should be changed from this:

Apple CarPlay™
4G LTE Module
Updatable onboard maps (first 3 years)
AT&T SIM Card Data Trial
Google® StreetView
Google® Earth
Online Destination Search
Real Time Traffic Information
Porsche Car Connect

To this:

Porsche Connect Plus - $1300

Includes:
Apple CarPlay™
4G LTE Module
AT&T SIM Card Data Trial

Access to the following with owner supplied data connection:
Online Destination Search
Real Time Traffic Information

Limited time Trials of the Following Subscription Services:
Google® StreetView
Google® Earth
Porsche Car Connect

Possibly free with use of owner supplied data connection, or maybe folded into the $155/year Navigation and Infotainment Services Subscription:
Updatable onboard maps (first 3 years)

 

But that is not what we were sold....

 

it sounds like this package is really badly explained and sold. needing to pay a data connection is crazy-- needing to pay a licensing fee to something that we paid for is crazy. so basically $1300 pays to unlock software that is already loaded and work for 3 months-- after that you're on your own?

 

I guess it's no surprise that Porsche really is not clear when you need to insert a separate SIM into the PCM and what you can run if you tether the PCM through your current phone which is clearly an option.

If I tether and use my phone for connection (eg verizon/sprint) can I get real time traffic, google stuff?

Is there any function that REQUIRES a SIM inserted into it's own slot on the PCM?

I almost hate to ask...but is the PCM locked to ATT or would a t-mobile (or other GSM) SIM work just as well?

From a technical standpoint, what frequencies and bands are supported by the US PCM internal cellular radios? (I wonder if there is anyone in Porsche that even understands that question..hint: it works on ATT isn't an answer, it's an example). I will assume it does not handle CDMA fallback if you use a Verizon/Sprint SIM and you leave an LTE area. Note: this question does not apply if you tether the PCM to your phone because your connectivity is defined by your cellphone, not the Porsche PCM.

 

T-Mobile breaks usage up per device so it should be pretty easy.

 

Another piece of the puzzle:

https://myvehicle.att.com/#/Porsche/learn

 

I don't understand all the confusion?! I think it is and always has been very clear what you get and what you don't in terms of PCM, PCM Nav, Connect, Connect+. What services that are attached and not.

To sort out one of the big confusions going on in here....

Google services; Earth, Online search, Google Street view, PCM Connect App, etc. ALL REQUIRE that Connect PLUS is optioned in the car. If Connect Plus is optioned the user can CHOOSE wether to use a SIM-card in the sim-slot for data services OR tether via the phone if that is a preferred alternative and that the user don't wan't to go with a separate sim/dataplan. If connect+ is NOT ordered it will NOT be possible to tether any of the google services or connect+ services.

 

So lets list some of the confusion points that you apparently don't see.

1) What SIM cards will work inserted into the slot in the PCM....will Verizon/Sprint (CDMA) carrier SIMS work if you are in their LTE areas.

2) Does the PCM drop back from LTE to 3G data...if so, will it work on both T-mobile and ATT networks in drop back mode? Will it drop back for CDMA carriers?

3) What can I access with my $1300 Porsche option without paying any additional money to Porsche or someone else...what is this "NEW" $155 "extra" annual fee that may or may not be needed to access google applications and/or map updates...unmentioned in the configurator until the last 30 days where it is still unclear?

4) If I tether, can I do everything that I could do if I had a dedicated SIM in the car?

5) What is the approximate data usage per month to use the various services...or am I supposed to just guess at which plan I need? How much data does something like google earth require per hour...even roughly?

6) Can I access SIRI by using the voice button with connect? How about connect +?

7) Can I access google via voice while driving using the voice button?

I probably could think of some other items...but obviously from the above, there are many unanswered questions, at least for those of us in the US.

 

Agree

 

I don't own a Macan but I'm picking up a 718 (It's sort of like a real Porsche, except it has a 4-cylinder engine) with PCM4 next month and this seems to be the most active forum on the subject. The roll-out has been very confusing: the best confirmed detail I've seen has been from someone here who posted a long drive report where he familiarized himself with the system and took the time to tell us as well.

I've used Garmin GPSs with FM-based traffic and the data was nowhere as good as Google's: unless FM traffic has improved a bunch I think that having an internet connection is worth it. I've never used XM traffic so can't comment on how good their data is but I think that the service costs almost as much as an ATT data SIM add-on (if you're already under contract with them). I feel as many here do that Porsche's communication as to what was required to get that internet data into the PCM through a SIM or tethering has been horrendous. It doesn't help that they have a bunch of hardware systems and subscriptions with similar names: Porsche Connect and Connect Plus are systems, PCM Connect is a free service, Car Connect is a subscription service through a third party that uses a separate, hidden SIM card and can you can use to fold your mirrors but not start your car (?!), and we are just now hearing about a new "connect" subscription to allow our $3000 piece of hardware to see data that we can see for free forever on a $100 phone.

I think that the right technical answer would be for the car folks to give up on the navigation and digital content distribution businesses and embrace some sort of screen mirroring system such as what I use to put my phone display on my TV via Roku over wifi. It works fine and doesn't require a cable connection. I tend to keep my cars for 10-12 years but wouldn't use a phone or navigation system that old, even with software updates. The more processing the car takes on the sooner the system will start to show its age. A dumb display should hold up for ten years (barely). It seems as though Apple Carplay adds an unnecessary layer of complication and inevitable obsolescence by being a software middleman. I just don't get it.

I understand that Porsche wouldn't install Google's Android Auto because Google wanted access to too much data. That may be a valid point, although it's more of a concern for Porsche than it is for us consumers. This makes me wonder if making us pay $155/year for traffic data (and the mandatory fluff they add in to make it look like a "package") that is otherwise free might be so that they can keep google out of our travel history. IF that's the case, a subscription might be worth it to some users although the rest of us would probably rather have the choice. On the other hand, Porsche or whomever they sell the concession to might just be using the data for their own purposes or selling it to someone worse than Google. We just don't know. If Porsche is putting themselves in the middle of the data stream to make more money it seems like bad business since the investment required to maintain a real-time data distribution system has to be out of proportion to the market size. Maybe the cynics are right and they're just installing a software gate, charging a subscription fee to keep it open, and letting Google keep all our data. It would be really nice to know.

I'd be interested to hear more real-world or any industry-insider views.

 

1,2: The dealer has no clue what SIM will work other than ATT since that's what Porsche gives them for trials. I doubt the PCM is an unlocked iphone...it may be unlocked, but does it handle cdma and the different bands and frequencies for all US carriers like my Motorola Pure phone?? No one seems to know....

3) Another area where no one seems to know....the ATT trial is 3 months or 3GB but what about the Porsche license/s which may be required. 2 years sounds good....but we are in the US.

5) not a strange question at all....I buy buckets of minutes...I have a 6gb/month plan now....there must be some way to estimate the data traffic for using the google stuff or real time traffic or whatever. Believe it or not, engineers actually do calculate/measure and track those things....but porsche gives us nothing...not even examples. WAZE is a different animal....and does a good job of compacting it's data stream. I have no clue how google earth/etc do. If I have to sign up for a 20gb plan, that's a big additional cost which I (and others) would like to know.

6) I saw there was a bug in connect...but not sure if that bug is also in connect +.

7) You may be right, but of course it's ridiculous not to implement this function. There is no documentation...and even if there were, I'm not sure we should believe it (eg activate surround view with the diamond button).