2016 XC90 Data Plans

shufflin

New member
Messages
1
Reactions
0
State
Non-US
Country
Albania
What I Drive
2001 Rav4
#1
Hello!
First post, so hi everyone!

I am planning on importing a new XC90 (2016 Inscription package) from USA to Europe.
You might find it odd, but it is more expensive here strangely enough.
I have a question about the data plan and the internet connection the guy at the dealer told me.
He said I would get free lifetime internet, but upon further researching myself, I found out that you only get 6 months for free from ATT, then you have to pay.
So, has anybody tested it? How many GB of data do you use a month? Is it VERY expensive, or is it ok? Also, can it work with another carrier, or should it be ATT? We don't have ATT here in Europe, so yeah.

Thank you in advance,
Cheers,
Elvi C.
 

batmore

New member
Messages
2
Reactions
0
State
MN
Country
United States
What I Drive
2014 x5
#2
Hello!
First post, so hi everyone!

I am planning on importing a new XC90 (2016 Inscription package) from USA to Europe.
You might find it odd, but it is more expensive here strangely enough.
I have a question about the data plan and the internet connection the guy at the dealer told me.
He said I would get free lifetime internet, but upon further researching myself, I found out that you only get 6 months for free from ATT, then you have to pay.
So, has anybody tested it? How many GB of data do you use a month? Is it VERY expensive, or is it ok? Also, can it work with another carrier, or should it be ATT? We don't have ATT here in Europe, so yeah.

Thank you in advance,
Cheers,
Elvi C.
Elvi: I don't own the XC90 (yet) but on a CNET review of the 2016 XC90, the reviewer said that you can use your mobile phone and link it via bluetooth to all the built in Volvo features. The advantage being you don't have to pay for another data plan. He thought that was a "no brainer" The reviewer also mentioned putting in a SIM card into the car, but he was talking so fast I didn't catch the details. Check out the CNET reviews on YouTube.

Good luck!
 

volvojoe

Active member
Messages
33
Reactions
0
State
SC
Country
United States
What I Drive
2016 XC90
#3
Gentlemen, ATT is the carrier off the dealer lot. I believe you need a GSM signal. The Sim card plugs in somwhere under the back floor on the right hand side. Research GSM carriers for a sim card. Europe does have GSM carriers - may work.
 
Messages
18
Reactions
0
State
AL
Country
United States
#4
Volvo is still proving my internet for free since they have not worked out a plan/deal with AT&T yet. Bought the car in December and still have Internet for free.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Messages
4
Reactions
0
State
GA
Country
United States
What I Drive
2017 XC90
#5
First 6 months is free from ATT. However, until volvo and ATT reach an agreement on data plan renewal, volvo (supposedly) will continue to provide data coverage.
I think you can use a GSM/LTE SIM from another carrier. I plan on swapping out and putting the sim from my phone from big red/and see how that turns out. will update on progress...
 

emoremio

Well-known member
Messages
97
Reactions
1
State
IL
Country
United States
What I Drive
2017 XC90 R-Design Polestar
#6

volvojoe

Active member
Messages
33
Reactions
0
State
SC
Country
United States
What I Drive
2016 XC90
#7
Hello induk-manikatt - Did you do anything with your car data plan? Very interested in what others are doing because I am looking at adding a device to my current AT&T plan - share if possible on unlimited data plan.
 
Messages
10
Reactions
1
State
NJ
Country
United States
What I Drive
2017 XC90 Inscription
#8
I have activated my ATT plan for 6 months and it seems to work fine with the apps & such, but if I disable it and only use my phone connected via bluetooth, the apps will not access my phone's data plan. Am I missing a setting somewhere?
 

emoremio

Well-known member
Messages
97
Reactions
1
State
IL
Country
United States
What I Drive
2017 XC90 R-Design Polestar
#9
So after just 2 months I burned through the 3GB of complimentary ATT data plan (I guess I enjoy streaming through TuneIn but I suspect the over the air software updates contributed to this too).
I do have ATT cellphone service so I called them and added the car as a another device to my family data plan so will be included in my monthly wireless bill.
The price is 10$ per month which a usual extra device fee, but there is a promotion now that if you connect the car they also give you extra 1GB of data per month without changing your data plan.
To save you time this is direct number to ATT department that handles connected cars: 1 866 595 0190
Just FYI
 

emoremio

Well-known member
Messages
97
Reactions
1
State
IL
Country
United States
What I Drive
2017 XC90 R-Design Polestar
#10
I think just connecting your smartphone to car via Bluetooth is not enough. It is only good for hands free calls and music. Bluetooth is not same as internet connection.

You will have to create a wifi internet hotspot on your smartphone and then connect the car to this wifi hotpot and then all internet connected apps should work.
Hope it helps.


I have activated my ATT plan for 6 months and it seems to work fine with the apps & such, but if I disable it and only use my phone connected via bluetooth, the apps will not access my phone's data plan. Am I missing a setting somewhere?
 
Messages
10
Reactions
1
State
NJ
Country
United States
What I Drive
2017 XC90 Inscription
#11
I know the difference between bluetooth and a network connection. On previous vehicles I have had the bluetooth connection between my phone and the car enabled me to use other data services through my phone (e.g. BMW 335d). On the XC90 this does not function. The only way to access the "apps" are if you are using the hotspot service built in to the car. Even when I use that though on my car I have not been able to get Tunein to stream. Others do work, (e.g. Yelp), but not Tunein. Thanks, Jon
 

charpman

New member
Messages
3
Reactions
0
State
OH
Country
United States
What I Drive
Lincoln MKZ
#12
So after just 2 months I burned through the 3GB of complimentary ATT data plan (I guess I enjoy streaming through TuneIn but I suspect the over the air software updates contributed to this too).
I do have ATT cellphone service so I called them and added the car as a another device to my family data plan so will be included in my monthly wireless bill.
The price is 10$ per month which a usual extra device fee, but there is a promotion now that if you connect the car they also give you extra 1GB of data per month without changing your data plan.
To save you time this is direct number to ATT department that handles connected cars: 1 866 595 0190
Just FYI
I just added my XC90 to my data plan as well. It seems to work, but is horribly slow. Speedtested it at 0.5mbit down and 0.3mbit up. My phone direct is pulling 30-40mbit down. Does anyone know if the XC90 supports LTE? Do I need to replace the SIM with a new one from AT&T?

Thanks!
 

emoremio

Well-known member
Messages
97
Reactions
1
State
IL
Country
United States
What I Drive
2017 XC90 R-Design Polestar
#13
I just Speedtested my XC90 wifi hot spot and inside the garage with car connection on 2 out 5 bars I got results 22.89 down, 13.13 up, ping 156.
I think I was getting lower speeds with 2.4 GHz band but since I switched to 5GHz band it is faster.
You can try switching the car to 5Ghz, the setting is just right there on the main screen where you chose password and name for your XC90 hot spot.
Let me know if that changed anything. I did not change my cars SIM card, I got the car in November 2016.



I just added my XC90 to my data plan as well. It seems to work, but is horribly slow. Speedtested it at 0.5mbit down and 0.3mbit up. My phone direct is pulling 30-40mbit down. Does anyone know if the XC90 supports LTE? Do I need to replace the SIM with a new one from AT&T?

Thanks!
 

Similar threads



Top