Lim Yung-Hui, Contributor I write about tech products and business strategies.

TECH | 2/23/2012 @ 5:14AM |4,964 views Proton's 4G Connected Cars (and The Rise of Data-Suck Things) Malaysian car maker Proton will start offering cars equipped with 4G connectivity soon, leveraging on Malaysias fastest mobile internet service, Yes. Yes 4G Huddle device will be housed in the dashboard of new Proton cars, creating a micro wireless network in the car. Up to five mobile devices can be connected at any one time for users to access the Internet. Currently, the Yes 4G service covers more than 65% of the countrys populated areas. It is the only wireless network operator that cover the entire stretch of 960km stretch of the North-South Highway, Malaysias longest expressway. At the Launch of Protons Internet Car in Kuala Lumpur (February 22, 2012)

The partnership between the two leading Malaysian brands, one in automobile and the other in mobile Internet connectivity, will culminate in development smarter, connected future Proton cars. Both Proton and YTL Communications (operator of Yes 4G service) plan to create various smart applications and functionalities for the always-connected cars such as remote

real-time vehicle diagnostics, security, and location-based services that will make the driving experience a safer, more convenient and enjoyable one. Dato Yeoh Seok Hong, Executive Director of YTL Communications said: In todays world, high-speed mobile connectivity is just as essential as music players and air conditioning in automobiles. He was spot on. In-car Internet connectivity, of course, is not new. In 2009, Autonet Mobile launched its in-car Wi-Fi router. And in 2009 also, Blaupunkt and miRoamer introduced the worlds first Internet radio. Recently, at the 2012 International CES, Ford unveiled its cloud-connected car, the Evos Concept, which aims to tap into the promises of cloud computing to enhance driving experience (see video below). Other major car manufacturers are also busy equipping their automobiles with data-suck capabilities:

1. Toyota: Buy movie tickets, book a table, check stocks, search on Bing. 2. General Motors: Play videos and slide shows, access songs via voice command. 3. Tesla Motors: Wireless Internet with 17-inch screen, USB plugs. 4. Mercedes-Benz: Checking Facebook status, read Twitter posts, use Google Local Search and Yelp. Source: Wall Street Journal Additionally, there are Googles driverless car, Audis Urban Intelligent Assist, Toyotas cloud-based telematic services, Mercedes-Benzs mbrace2 technology & DICE Augmented Reality System, and General Motors autonomous driving. By 2016, it is reported that more than 90% cars in America will be equipped with Internet-connected technology features. No wonder mobile broadband users will exceed PC broadband users by 2016, according to the latest Forrester report. Globally, Intel estimated a total of 31 billion devices from cars to TVs to fitness equipments to tablets connected to the Internet by 2020 compares to 4 billion Internet users. The side-defect of connected car is the connected-cars-distracted-drivers problem. Some argued that driving is already mentally burdening and the gamut of social streams and infotainment on-board will only add more distractions. As the debate rages on, cars are inevitably and increasingly getting connected. http://www.forbes.com/sites/limyunghui/2012/02/23/protons-4g-connectedcars-and-the-rise-of-data-suck-things/ Youtube

Malaysia's first 4G Internet car

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I43PUPzLPs8 Yes and Proton announced collaboration to offer Malaysias 4G Internet car recently. Proton Holding Group Managing Director was at the event to

announce the collaboration. CEO of YTL Comms. Wing K Lee and Executive Director of YTL Comms, Jacob Yeoh was also there to witness the occasion. The P3-21A model which will be reveal next month will be the first of many future Proton models with Yes as part of itd standard features. Yes & Proton is giving away a one-of-a-kind special edition Yes 4G internet enabled Proton Inspira worth RM100,000 as a main prize.