Audi Connect Prime & Navigation

[strife1013]

So I've been doing a lot of research on the new A4 and found that in order to use the google map overlay you have to have Audi Connect Prime which is $199 for 6 months or $750 for 30 months.

The car comes with a 6 month trial. So it looks like after 6 months if you don't pay for it you lose the cool google earth overlay in the navigation system and your reduced down to the crappy detailed-less version is this correct? I don't care about the data and the wifi so I don't care for the prime. In fact I'm kinda ticked I have to pay for Audi Connect. I don't care about all the stuff that comes with it, I know where I park my car, I don't need to check the status of my car from my phone, and all that gimmicky stuff, I want the cool Google overlay in navigation and that's it.

So if I didn't want to pay for it can I use google maps from my iPhone and use my phone data instead through Apple CarPlay?

Is there any way around this or are we pretty much forced to paying for Audi a Connect Prime to use navigation?

[superswiss]

Yes, that's correct. Once the trial is over you lose the Google Earth overlay. No, you can't use Google Maps from your iPhone through CarPlay. Google Maps is not supported through CarPlay. You have to get an Android phone and use Android Auto. If you want the Google Earth overlays, you have to get Connect Prime, because the system requires a license now for Google Earth overlay and everything else to work.

[strife1013]

Thanks, that totally sucks. Another way to nickel and dime you.

[superswiss]

You will also lose traffic information if you don't renew the PRIME subscription. The Wifi hotspot is actually a separate subscription called Connect PLUS. Starting with the 2017 A4, Audi connect got completely revamped. You can no longer supply your own SIM. The system uses a built-in eSIM and the only way to get any of the services is to pay for Connect PRIME and optionally Connect PLUS for the wifi hotspot. Connect PLUS has the option of adding the wifi hotspot to your AT&T Shared Data plan for $10/month, but that option isn't available for Connect PRIME as you pay for the services and not for the data connection. Audi is just catching up with BMW and Mercedes, who have been charging for their online services for a while now.

[dbuxton13]

So how does Google maps work without data? Or does it not work at all? What makes Google maps so powerful on my phone is the fact that it is networked so you can easily find almost anything, and quickly.

[JD23]

You could use Google Maps through Android Auto with your phone's adata plan, but there is no Google Earth navigation overlay without Connect Prime. I have no interest in paying $30 per month for a service that I would use infrequently, so all of the "connected" features that Audi is touting will not benefit me.

[AudiA4b6US]

So how does Google maps work without data? Or does it not work at all? What makes Google maps so powerful on my phone is the fact that it is networked so you can easily find almost anything, and quickly.

The MMI doesn't use Google Maps, it uses Google Earth overlay which makes the map look pretty but doesn't really do anything. Any AudiConnect service will work without additional data SIM for the duration of the subscription (6 or 30 months), not subscriptions also include 6GB of data for WiFi clients for occasional use.

[superswiss]

The MMI doesn't use Google Maps, it uses Google Earth overlay which makes the map look pretty but doesn't really do anything. Any AudiConnect service will work without additional data SIM for the duration of the subscription (6 or 30 months), not subscriptions also include 6GB of data for WiFi clients for occasional use.

To add to this, the MMI uses HERE maps (formerly Navteq) stored locally. That allows it to function offline. A major issue of Google Maps is that it doesn't really work offline, so if you are driving in an area without cell coverage, you wouldn't be able to navigate even if you are paying for an Audi connect subscription. The MMI complements the locally stored maps with online services such as Google Local search for POIs and Google Earth for satellite images overlays, Google Street View and INRIX Traffic data, Google Send-to-car, etc. Without an Audi connect subscription you still have a basic navigation that doesn't show traffic data, can't dynamically reroute you and is limited to POI data stored locally.

The only car manufacturer that has opted to use Google Maps is Tesla, but in order to be able to continue navigating if you drive outside cell phone coverage, the dash runs a backup Garmin system with locally stored maps, that takes over if Google Maps loses the data connection. That's one way to do it. Audi decided to always use locally stored maps and enrich them with online services when a data connection is available. To me, that makes more sense.

BTW, the locally stored maps are periodically updated if you have an Audi connect subscription, otherwise you'll eventually end up with outdated maps.

[AudiA4b6US]

To add to this, the MMI uses HERE maps (formerly Navteq) stored locally.

Especially now that Audi, BMW and Mercedes own the map devision of Navteq including all its data gathered over the years. The three will use their next generation cars (including the A7/Q7 with some software update in the future) to improve map data and add new features. Gathering accurate map data is critical for autonomous driving where the map data has to provide details lane details besides the usual coordinates.

[dbuxton13]

Especially now that Audi, BMW and Mercedes own the map devision of Navteq including all its data gathered over the years. The three will use their next generation cars (including the A7/Q7 with some software update in the future) to improve map data and add new features. Gathering accurate map data is critical for autonomous driving where the map data has to provide details lane details besides the usual coordinates.

Great info, thanks everyone. I use HERE maps frequently on my phone in Europe because of that offline feature, it's actually a pretty good map system. Glad to know a decent source is being used as the backstop.