Connect+ is Here

https://stories.rivian.com/connect-plus


Rivian must have been reading about the folks who planned on not updating in an attempt to avoid the sunset of their free LTE, this was part of the e-mail I received on this story:

Enjoy your 60-day trial

Starting today, you’ll be auto-enrolled in a 60-day trial of Connect+ at no extra cost. Once your trial ends, you can continue to have the full connected experience for just $14.99/month or an annual subscription of $149/year.

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thanks for sharing

Just got this email, looks like they’re ending free Connect+ services in the next 60 days.

Link to Rivian Story:
Connect+ No Longer Free

RIVIAN

AUGUST 13TH, 2024
There’s no better sidekick to your daily adventures than your favorite playlist or podcast, and nothing more important than staying connected when you need to be, wherever your Rivian takes you.
We’re introducing Connect+, a streaming and connectivity service, for Rivian owners with our latest software update. All the music, audio, and video streaming connectivity you want is made possible with an easy monthly or annual subscription.
Thanks to Rivian’s fully integrated software platform, Connect+ offers seamless access to enhanced connectivity features and a host of new apps in your R1. Your favorite streaming services are shown natively within the vehicle’s display, making for a simple, convenient and immersive infotainment experience everywhere you go.

Apple Music
With Connect+, Rivian drivers with an Apple Music subscription can stream a library of over 100 million songs and thousands of playlists from anywhere, always ad-free. Thanks to a significant collaboration between the teams at Apple and Rivian, this experience is deeply integrated into our software platform, and enables listeners to easily search and browse through Apple Music's catalog and playlists, enjoy access to its global live-streaming radio stations and more.





Audible
Connect+ allows Audible customers to stream Audible’s world-class catalogue of premium audio titles to your Rivian. Choose from their enormous selection of Audible Originals, hit audiobooks and must-listen podcasts to inspire your imagination on your next road trip.





Google Cast & YouTube
Coming soon, we're introducing Google Cast and YouTube experiences, seamlessly bringing your favorite entertainment right into your R1’s center display. Whether you’re charging or relaxing at a campsite, you’ll soon be able to stream high-definition video content, with high-quality sound, from cast-enabled apps on your iPhone or Android™ phone or tablet directly to your vehicle. With access to over 3,000 cast-enabled apps, you’ll be able to stream your favorite content without missing a beat. In addition to Google Cast, YouTube offers an extensive catalog of videos, entertainment, and more.





Other Streaming Apps
With Connect+, Rivian vehicles can stream previously integrated apps too including Spotify, Tidal, and TuneIn from anywhere. There’s a range of audio streaming options for listening to all your favorite sports, music, podcasts, audiobooks and other content.


Connectivity Features
Beyond the fully integrated streaming apps, Connect+ also brings with it several enhanced connectivity features. The vehicle hot spot provides connectivity for up to eight devices using the onboard LTE connection. Drivers are also able to view satellite images using the on-screen navigation, as well as use Alexa Connected commands.


Spatial Audio
Rivian customers seeking an even more immersive sound experience can configure a vehicle with Rivian Premium Audio, which enables pioneering spatial audio with Dolby Atmos® . The experience is optimized for the vehicle, delivering astonishing audio that reveals more depth, clarity, and details in your favorite music.





Getting Started
All Rivian owners will start with a Connect+ two-month trial. Together with the available streaming apps, Connect+ gives Rivian drivers an expansive, industry-leading infotainment and connected car experience, and this is only the beginning. There’s much more to come soon!

I just received this email so the vehicle update should be deploying. I have not checked yet.

Email from Rivian:

Hi there,

We’re introducing changes to your vehicle’s connectivity platform. All the core operating features such as live navigation, software updates, remote vehicle commands, phone as key and Alexa Basic will remain accessible at no cost. Entertainment, streaming and Wi-Fi hotspot are now available through Connect+, our new subscription-based service.

Starting today, you are auto-enrolled in a 60-day trial of Connect+. After that, you can subscribe for just $14.99/month or an annual subscription of $149/year.

I don't plan on paying for the subscription I hope they understand there is not $15 a month worth of value there for most people.

Just got it too. I'm struggling to understand why I'd subscribe to Connect+ if I'm perfectly happy with all the entertainment options I'm getting from my EV Sportline Smart Dash

It seems to me, like (although maybe not as 'integrated'), the EV Sportline product actually gives me way more than Connect+, and piggybacks on my already cheap/strong 5G mobile phone. Maybe I'm missing the value proposition of Connect+

I wonder as they have my card info then will they automatically enroll me after the free trial and I need to cancel it beforehand to avoid the first payment to happen or the subscription will automatically cancel after the free trial.

Based on all other subscription plans it might be the former rather than the latter?

Blueassassin said:

I don't plan on paying for the subscription I hope they understand there is not $15 a month worth of value there for most people.

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Rivian is going to keep adding things in. I hope they don't raise the price as that happens but they probably eventually will.

That said, I'm constantly amazed at the people who go on and on about buying a $100,000 car but won't pay $15/mo for the data they use in it.

So to clarify, I get all of this currently (and have been for a while) for free. I will now have to pay for the same exact thing. Correct?

And then, at some undetermined future date (s00n), the service will improve to add YouTube and remote Gear Guard.

Just want to be sure I'm tracking.

Sigh.

I'm torn. I assume plain old BT audio will continue to function (?) so I'll just use that.

I just want to be able to cast YouTube music from my phone since no native app will probably exist for it.

JustPokingAround said:

Sigh.

I'm torn. I assume plain old BT audio will continue to function (?) so I'll just use that.

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If I'm interpreting the patch notes correctly, you should be able to use your phone's hotspot to connect the Rivian's wifi to it, and still retain access to all the streaming stuff.

I got this too. If I don't use Apple Music or Audible is there any reason to upgrade now?

Will Amazon music and Spotify still work?

I would be curious what you lose without this service? Do I lose my LTE, which means the current apps no longer work in addition to navigation traffic and charging information.

It isn't terrible and I totally get it.

Dark-Fx said:

That said, I'm constantly amazed at the people who go on and on about buying a $100,000 car but won't pay $15/mo for the data they use in it.

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But I don't use any of the data right now -- I use the EV Sportline thing exclusively. If Rivian put all the same functionality into main UI, of course I'd be happy to pay a monthly fee.