Mercedes Me Connect - Subscription charges
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Joined: Oct 2020
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NCC-1701
My long-term view is that everything will become a subscription. Institutional investors are buying up properties at insane levels, and it will eventually be impossible for private parties to compete, leading to more rentals and less private ownership. Most apps we use in our household are already on a subscription level only. Streaming is subscription. Kindle, VPN, Dropbox etc. too. More and more companies are pushing for lease-based contracts for items such as phones, cars, and bikes. The general shift is from owning to renting.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
gle 350
Thanks for the thread. Quick question then, will the whole navigation and route guidance stop working if I don't renew (
Navigation Services) ?
Free entitlements expire for my car in dec 2022; just got an email.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,398
Likes: 5,323
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Thanks for the thread. Quick question then, will the whole navigation and route guidance stop working if I don't renew (
Navigation Services) ?
Free entitlements expire for my car in dec 2022; just got an email.
Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 89
Likes: 29
GLE 350, C300, GLC 300
The frustrating thing is that they only offer annual subscriptions and they are non-transferrable.
I had to extend my lease a couple of months to wait for my new build, but my subscription services all expire at the end of this month and there's no way to extend or even transfer it if I did break down and buy the annual. Only thing I really use a lot is the Live Traffic and can live without it until the new car, but truly wish they had a more flexible subscription model.
I had to extend my lease a couple of months to wait for my new build, but my subscription services all expire at the end of this month and there's no way to extend or even transfer it if I did break down and buy the annual. Only thing I really use a lot is the Live Traffic and can live without it until the new car, but truly wish they had a more flexible subscription model.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,398
Likes: 5,323
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
The frustrating thing is that they only offer annual subscriptions and they are non-transferrable.
I had to extend my lease a couple of months to wait for my new build, but my subscription services all expire at the end of this month and there's no way to extend or even transfer it if I did break down and buy the annual. Only thing I really use a lot is the Live Traffic and can live without it until the new car, but truly wish they had a more flexible subscription model.
I had to extend my lease a couple of months to wait for my new build, but my subscription services all expire at the end of this month and there's no way to extend or even transfer it if I did break down and buy the annual. Only thing I really use a lot is the Live Traffic and can live without it until the new car, but truly wish they had a more flexible subscription model.
Banned
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 354
Likes: 122
2020 GLE 350
The frustrating thing is that they only offer annual subscriptions and they are non-transferrable.
I had to extend my lease a couple of months to wait for my new build, but my subscription services all expire at the end of this month and there's no way to extend or even transfer it if I did break down and buy the annual. Only thing I really use a lot is the Live Traffic and can live without it until the new car, but truly wish they had a more flexible subscription model.
I had to extend my lease a couple of months to wait for my new build, but my subscription services all expire at the end of this month and there's no way to extend or even transfer it if I did break down and buy the annual. Only thing I really use a lot is the Live Traffic and can live without it until the new car, but truly wish they had a more flexible subscription model.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2022
Posts: 25
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From: Springfield, Virginia
GLE W167
BTW, I also notice that if you use the 'native' app for route, you can even see the point-by-point guidance in your driver's central display area when you select 'Navigation' using the driver screen control button on the steering. i.e., if I use Apple maps, I can see the next turn/distance right in my driver's screen; but not if I use Googlemaps on iphone.
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Joined: May 2018
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From: Boise
2024 GMC Canyon Denali..... 2018 Audi SQ5
An AA update is out in Beta mode for the newest version…a major revision called Coolwalk.
https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-...-auto-coolwalk
https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-...-auto-coolwalk
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 496
Likes: 214
From: Philadelphia, PA
2020 Mercedes GLE 450
An AA update is out in Beta mode for the newest version…a major revision called Coolwalk.
https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-...-auto-coolwalk
https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-...-auto-coolwalk
But since this is a toggle on Google server end, they could enable it at any moment. They probably just want to wait until they find and fix it before enabling coolwalk for us.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 526
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From: Texas
2021 GLE 53 AMG Coupe
It is out, but I don't believe it is enabled for our car. I was part of the beta program and notice that coolwalk is not enabled (but turning on developer mode and enable "virtual" AA works). My understanding is that those car with touchpad and/or turning wheel based control (even when touch screen is available) still have the coolwalk disabled. I also have some navigation issue with touchpad since the new update.
But since this is a toggle on Google server end, they could enable it at any moment. They probably just want to wait until they find and fix it before enabling coolwalk for us.
But since this is a toggle on Google server end, they could enable it at any moment. They probably just want to wait until they find and fix it before enabling coolwalk for us.
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
An AA update is out in Beta mode for the newest version…a major revision called Coolwalk.
https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-...-auto-coolwalk
https://www.androidcentral.com/apps-...-auto-coolwalk
I was met by a text from Google Maps, asking me to pinpoint the front door, on the map they provided with the text. I slid the map around under the arrow, hit enter, and they thanked me.
I guess its a Thing already. I'm not on a Beta.
Edit- it may have been an email, not text.
Last edited by mikapen; Dec 10, 2022 at 02:23 PM.
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From: Central Indiana
2021 GLC 300 4Matic
Member
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From: New York
2020 GLE450 polar white AMG pkg.
Another point for comparison; Tesla used to offer free premium connectivity on new vehicles for one full year. Now it’s free for 30 days. The subscription costs $10 per month; or $99 for a full year. It offers in car entertainment features eg Netflix ; Hulu etc. via a built in cellular network; and real time traffic visualizations along with satellite view maps. Really a good value at $99/ year.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2015
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C450, GLS 63 and a few other things
I hate subscriptions, but I think its fair to have to pay for ones that cost the company money. Using an app to start your car requires the company to maintain servers to process the request as well as pay the phone companies for cellular data charges. While I'm sure that costs them very little, they do have some costs and paying for that use seems reasonable. Where this is going that you have to pay to use hardware already in the car is an entirely other thing in my mind.
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From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
It's kinda like owning a cell phone and having to pay monthly to use it.
How about "commercial free" cable TV?
Subscriptions are growing everywhere. I don't think I'll ever get used to it.
How about "commercial free" cable TV?
Subscriptions are growing everywhere. I don't think I'll ever get used to it.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 775
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From: Pennsylvania
2024 GLE 450 4matic
I agree with you. If the car remote had a start function, I could see them making a case charging for the convenience of not having to be line of sight with the car, but since they cleverly left that button off the remote, they have you cornered.
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Subaru BRZ
Another point for comparison; Tesla used to offer free premium connectivity on new vehicles for one full year. Now it’s free for 30 days. The subscription costs $10 per month; or $99 for a full year. It offers in car entertainment features eg Netflix ; Hulu etc. via a built in cellular network; and real time traffic visualizations along with satellite view maps. Really a good value at $99/ year.
Sell things at a loss to attract more customers, make up for the loss with VC funding, and then eventually flip the switch and start profiting off of higher subscription costs after you've trapped a decent customer base.
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Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
The cost will probably keep on going up. This is the way businesses work nowadays, especially smaller companies who are trying to aggressively gain market share.
Sell things at a loss to attract more customers, make up for the loss with VC funding, and then eventually flip the switch and start profiting off of higher subscription costs after you've trapped a decent customer base.
Sell things at a loss to attract more customers, make up for the loss with VC funding, and then eventually flip the switch and start profiting off of higher subscription costs after you've trapped a decent customer base.
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From: Pennsylvania
2024 GLE 450 4matic
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
As for remote start itself, outside of North America it pretty much does not exist. It's flat out illegal in Europe, so no German brand is gonna waste engineering resources on a key fob based remote start just for Americans. Leave that up to the aftermarket if somebody really wants it. I'm frankly surprised they even offer the app based remote start. Audi for example doesn't offer any remote start, not even app based.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2022
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From: NJ
2022 GLE 450
As others have said I don't think it's unreasonable to have to pay a subscription fee or per-use charge for a service that requires the provider to run an infrastructure with ongoing operating costs. Basically any type of online service falls into that. They don't run themselves. Servers have to be maintained and communication costs have to be paid on an ongoing basis. Your cell phone requires a monthly subscription and you have to pay monthly for your home Internet service, utilities etc. for the same reasons.
As for remote start itself, outside of North America it pretty much does not exist. It's flat out illegal in Europe, so no German brand is gonna waste engineering resources on a key fob based remote start just for Americans. Leave that up to the aftermarket if somebody really wants it. I'm frankly surprised they even offer the app based remote start. Audi for example doesn't offer any remote start, not even app based.
As for remote start itself, outside of North America it pretty much does not exist. It's flat out illegal in Europe, so no German brand is gonna waste engineering resources on a key fob based remote start just for Americans. Leave that up to the aftermarket if somebody really wants it. I'm frankly surprised they even offer the app based remote start. Audi for example doesn't offer any remote start, not even app based.
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Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 289
Likes: 94
Subaru BRZ
As others have said I don't think it's unreasonable to have to pay a subscription fee or per-use charge for a service that requires the provider to run an infrastructure with ongoing operating costs. Basically any type of online service falls into that. They don't run themselves. Servers have to be maintained and communication costs have to be paid on an ongoing basis. Your cell phone requires a monthly subscription and you have to pay monthly for your home Internet service, utilities etc. for the same reasons.
As for remote start itself, outside of North America it pretty much does not exist. It's flat out illegal in Europe, so no German brand is gonna waste engineering resources on a key fob based remote start just for Americans. Leave that up to the aftermarket if somebody really wants it. I'm frankly surprised they even offer the app based remote start. Audi for example doesn't offer any remote start, not even app based.
As for remote start itself, outside of North America it pretty much does not exist. It's flat out illegal in Europe, so no German brand is gonna waste engineering resources on a key fob based remote start just for Americans. Leave that up to the aftermarket if somebody really wants it. I'm frankly surprised they even offer the app based remote start. Audi for example doesn't offer any remote start, not even app based.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 96
Likes: 22
2022 GLE 350
As others have said I don't think it's unreasonable to have to pay a subscription fee or per-use charge for a service that requires the provider to run an infrastructure with ongoing operating costs. Basically any type of online service falls into that. They don't run themselves. Servers have to be maintained and communication costs have to be paid on an ongoing basis. Your cell phone requires a monthly subscription and you have to pay monthly for your home Internet service, utilities etc. for the same reasons.
As for remote start itself, outside of North America it pretty much does not exist. It's flat out illegal in Europe, so no German brand is gonna waste engineering resources on a key fob based remote start just for Americans. Leave that up to the aftermarket if somebody really wants it. I'm frankly surprised they even offer the app based remote start. Audi for example doesn't offer any remote start, not even app based.
As for remote start itself, outside of North America it pretty much does not exist. It's flat out illegal in Europe, so no German brand is gonna waste engineering resources on a key fob based remote start just for Americans. Leave that up to the aftermarket if somebody really wants it. I'm frankly surprised they even offer the app based remote start. Audi for example doesn't offer any remote start, not even app based.
On a lighter note - german brands not wasting engineering resources on key based remote start
Mercedes had this function until 2019, BMW still got the key fob-based start in US. Mercedes dumped this option for their own reason.
Some reason all the German brands are too slow in embracing (and building) great software platform. They just catching up with Tesla. Long way to go!
