Virtual car repairs is now a thing: FaceTime your mechanic
This week’s Smart Living roundup features the expansion of a smart home service, how case studies will drive the connected market, and a new connected car repair service.
DISH expands Smart Home Services to Amazon customers
DISH Network Corp. announced that its Smart Home Services is now available for Amazon.com customers nationwide. The announcement coincides with the launch of Amazon’s Home Services marketplace, which allows consumers to compare offers from various service providers across multiple industries such as home entertainment installation.
“Amazon excels at getting products like a flat screen TV to your doorstep, and now in addition to the familiar Amazon box, a DISH expert technician can come to your door to remove the frustration of how to hang it on the wall,” said Erik Carlson, DISH executive vice president of operations. “We deliver professional, no mess installation respecting your time and home by calling ahead to let you know when we’ll arrive and wearing boot covers on our feet to keep your living room clean.”
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AT&T banks on use cases to grow the connected market
According to AT&T Mobility CEO Glenn Lurie, what will drive the connected car and home market is use cases, as consumers need solutions that are easy to use to prevent consumers from being intimidated by new technology. AT&T has already started with this strategy when it announced the integration of its Drive connected car platform to its Digital Life home security platform. This would allow consumers to control or monitor their connected home with their connected car.
“The ultimate goal here has to be that we deliver a simplistic, overall customer experience for mobilizing people’s lives,” Lurie said. “I’m not saying that’s easy. It’s actually very difficult. But as you start to have these great use cases and bring them together I think people will start to get it. People get it now, people are starting to understand it today.”
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Openbay’s new connected car repair service
At the New York International Auto Show in New York, Openbay Corp. launched OpenbayConnect, a first-of-its-kind platform that leverages connected car technology to remotely diagnose problems and deliver competitive repair quotes from local mechanics. This will allow consumers to reap benefits such as the convenience of having a car problem diagnosed remotely, which means no need to drive down to a mechanic if you absolutely don’t have to, as well as the ability to choose which mechanic fits your budget.
“We live in an on-demand society, and today’s connected consumers expect immediate responses to their needs. Fewer people are raising a hand to hail a cab or calling a restaurant to book a reservation, and now, we’re eliminating the need to head to a mechanic to diagnose a check-engine light,” said Rob Infantino, founder and CEO of Openbay. “OpenbayConnect will remotely determine cause, cost and availability to perform the repair by local mechanics, answering virtually every driver’s need for efficient, affordable auto repair service.”
photo credit: chiaralily via photopin cc
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