Having now got my Skoda connect working regularly, I've been thinking about whether I'll renew it at the end of the first year?? It doesn't seem to offer very much extra for the additional cost. What do people think?

Dafydd

I have not used it and just can not see what benefit it gives. I would just use Google Auto for detailed maps if I needed that...

 

YMMV

I'm not too sure if the Karoq has a built in SIM card reader but my Superb has and I've just renewed the part that includes RTTI. I didn't use the other part so didn't bother paying for it.

Always comes down to personal opinion, but for many of us the renewal after the first year of playing with the new toy is a big No No.

 

I'm certainly not missing it at all.

Edited 26 January, 20197 yr by BoxerBoy

Basically there is no use of it. As I wrote beside useless 'apps' in menu, the functions like Personal POIs online update is so limited and user-friendly it is a joke. For instance, while via old fashioned SD card method you can apply sound alert to your POIs it is not possible with modern, payed, online connect. Had joke for your money (SD card method is free btw).

 

Other functions of Connect, like mobile App, are at same level of improvisation and lack of meaningful functionality. 

 

And it is not that this is brand new product and service. It is years old, so its status is showing total neglect of Skoda and their lack of vision, inspiration and dedication. You know, we are not speaking of some local neighborhood garage startup. We are talking of giant company with high ravenues in billions. So they sure don't lack money (they already took from us) but something else to deliver something worthy and useful to us.

 

BTW only thing I found working on their portal without glitch is that subscription process. Taking your money works. Looks like that is only thing that matters to them.

 

But I can understand that. If just 10% of Skoda owners pay subscription for something that costs them almost nothing (judging resources they allocated to that project) it is extra profit that surely is not negligible in their books. Just think about that. They make much more money on that yearly subscription than they make on your regular yearly service! For sure.

 

So it is all up to you. If you are happy to donate Skoda - subscribe to Connect. No other value in it. For you.

I' not sure what Connect does but I do connect my phone via WLAN and then the Sat Nav shows live traffic delays on the map - would this stop if I don't renew Connect?

Thanks

Mark

6 hours ago, Dafyddapw said:

Having now got my Skoda connect working regularly, I've been thinking about whether I'll renew it at the end of the first year?? It doesn't seem to offer very much extra for the additional cost. What do people think?

Dafydd

Our Karoq is 1 year old today and we will not be renewing because never use it, don't think it's good value for the limited services it provides, your money your choice however.

If it was a tenner, or twenty quid I'd think about it, but at £80 (including the current promotional discount) for both Skoda Connect and Remote Access is way too much.

 

Skoda are on cloud cuckoo.

3 hours ago, Marchincus said:

I' not sure what Connect does but I do connect my phone via WLAN and then the Sat Nav shows live traffic delays on the map - would this stop if I don't renew Connect?

Thanks

Mark

Yes it would stop Mark. £44 to get another years worth.

At least in my country, Škoda Connect and Infotainment Online are two different things, billed separately.

 

Škoda Connect is about controlling your car via a built-in SIM card, and comes with a 3-year paid (200-300€) plan.

 

Infotainment Online is about real-time traffic updates and points of interests, and comes with 1 year for free.

 

Škoda Connect might be worth it if you frequently leave your car unattented for long periods of time (for instance, at the airport) or in unknown places, and want to be keep the track of its location / be notified if someone tries to break in.

 

It also allows to remotely pre-heat or cool-down the car in the markets where the auxiliary heater is available.

 

Infotainment Online is only worth it if you use the built-in satnav in heavy traffic conditions, because the offline maps themselves can be updated for free.

 

I think these subscription-based services are directed at people who choose Columbus infotainment system and want their Škoda car to feel as premium as it can be.

 

Škoda Connect shouldn't be much different from Audi Connect and Volkswagen Connect. But it's likely to receive the least development attention, because the more budget the car brand is, the lower the customer demand for such a service exists.

Edited 26 January, 20197 yr by Guest

https://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/skoda-connect

7 hours ago, onvo said:

At least in my country, Škoda Connect and Infotainment Online are two different things, billed separately.

 

Škoda Connect is about controlling your car via a built-in SIM card, and comes with a 3-year paid (200-300€) plan.

 

Infotainment Online is about real-time traffic updates and points of interests, and comes with 1 year for free.

 

Škoda Connect might be worth it if you frequently leave your car unattented for long periods of time (for instance, at the airport) or in unknown places, and want to be keep the track of its location / be notified if someone tries to break in.

 

It also allows to remotely pre-heat or cool-down the car in the markets where the auxiliary heater is available.

 

Infotainment Online is only worth it if you use the built-in satnav in heavy traffic conditions, because the offline maps themselves can be updated for free.

 

I think these subscription-based services are directed at people who choose Columbus infotainment system and want their Škoda car to feel as premium as it can be.

 

Škoda Connect shouldn't be much different from Audi Connect and Volkswagen Connect. But it's likely to receive the least development attention, because the more budget the car brand is, the lower the customer demand for such a service exists.

 

Well for Columbus owners online map updates are maybe only option that matters (yet good old SD card method for free is still there do perform quarterly).

 

But for Amundsen it is totally worthless.

 

And Traffic Conditions are quite inaccurate too in most areas I compared to Google maps.

 

And any other functionality is potentially applicable to very limited users group with specific additional equipment. Like preheated or advanced alarm and security. Others don't benefit at all as they don't have functionality but are paying same flat price.

 

 

9 hours ago, john999boy said:

Yes it would stop Mark. £44 to get another years worth.

 

Check if traffic conditions are accurate and relevant in your area. I found it to be far away from Google Maps traffic which is very accurate worldwide.

2 hours ago, pa_ko said:

Others don't benefit at all as they don't have functionality but are paying same flat price.

 

I think that's exactly why these subscription services are optional extras, and nobody is supposed to choose them without a need.

 

For traffic information, nothing will be ever able to compete with Google Maps, because Google tracks the location data of all Android users by default, and uses it for many different features across its products.

 

I read somewhere that Audi, BMW, and Mercedes Benz reached an agreement to combine the location data of all their cars to be able to compete with Google at real-time traffic information.

 

It could improve Škoda's satnav in a few years time, if the VW group decides to release the feature across all its brands. But it will never be as accurate as Google Maps.

 

The main advantages of the built-in satnav over Google Maps are that it works offline in any country, is integrated into the virtual cockpit, and doesn't send your exact location to Google every second.

Edited 27 January, 20197 yr by Guest

1 hour ago, onvo said:

 

I think that's exactly why these subscription services are optional extras, and nobody is supposed to choose them without a need.

 

For traffic information, nothing will be ever able to compete with Google Maps, because Google tracks the location data of all Android users by default, and uses it for many different features across its products.

 

I read somewhere that Audi, BMW, and Mercedes Benz reached an agreement to combine the location data of all their cars to be able to compete with Google at real-time traffic information.

 

It could improve Škoda's satnav in a few years time, if the VW group decides to release the feature across all its brands. But it will never be as accurate as Google Maps.

 

The main advantages of the built-in satnav over Google Maps are that it works offline in any country, is integrated into the virtual cockpit, and doesn't send your exact location to Google every second.

 

Exactly there is a root cause of all this mess. VAG and German autoindustry wish to also has monopoly on car and traffic data. They are mad on Google to beat them in their own yard.

 

And exactly for that monopolistic reasons as well as technical incompetence (visible on all range of online, connected and mobile services and apps that are far away of modern standards and user experience expectations) they are limiting availability of Google and other provided services in their infotainment.

 

For example, it is quite possible to either cooperate with Google, buy and ressel as part of yearly subscription, traffic data and use it in built-in navy. Price of that service is just few cents per year per vehicle (even it is few euros, it is much less then useless Skoda Connect subscription). So what is the reason not to include it? Any reasonable explanation?

 

There are lot similar services and apps that they could enable. But they don't want and they don't care. They are making enormous profit on people paying subscription without thinking or even being mislead with its functionality. Yes, as we seen here, many users are confused or misled by what functionality is and how tied to paid subscription. And what can be done other ways (e.g. SD card way) for free (and even better as I explained about Personal POIs).

 

I don't see any arguments or reasonable explanation benefiting us as owners an customers but there are many foggy reasons benefiting Skoda here... Muddy business I would say.

28 minutes ago, pa_ko said:

For example, it is quite possible to either cooperate with Google, buy and ressel as part of yearly subscription, traffic data and use it in built-in navy. Price of that service is just few cents per year per vehicle (even it is few euros, it is much less then useless Skoda Connect subscription). So what is the reason not to include it? Any reasonable explanation?

 

Car manufacturers don't cooperate with Google, because that would create Google's monopoly in the car infotainment market. This has already happened on the web, where Google suddenly raised the price of Google Maps integration more than 10x last year, which forced many companies to look for the alternatives.

 

It's true, that car manufacturers are not software companies and they have a lot of catch up to do. But they don't want to become just money making cows for Google.

Edited 27 January, 20197 yr by Guest

Really grateful for all the opinions voiced. Doesn't seem to be any enthusiasm for skoda connect and it's pricing!!

So if i understand the process correctly, without a subscription, live traffic data won't be integrated into my satnav route? I could use Google Traffic from my iphone on Apple play, but it wouldn't be integrated into my sat nav display either?

Dafydd

Correct, but what I think you can do is use the display to show the Google map on it, not tried it yet but when driving in America with other cars you just connect your phone via cable and up pops your Google map on the inbuilt screen. You need to do a bit of setup but not too difficult. Thinking is called Android Auto, not got an iPhone so not sure what integration there is with them but guessing something similar?

https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/what-is-android-auto/

 

This link might help?

 

Google Maps will be integrated into the infotainment display if you connect your smartphone via USB.

 

Just not into the virtual cockpit, if you have one.

many thanks !!

 

It's a shame that someone from Skoda can't comment on the opinions here!!!

I think that you should be able to let the subscription expire, try using Google Maps for a while, and then renew the subscription later, if you decide to go back to the built-in satnav.

13 hours ago, onvo said:

Infotainment Online is only worth it if you use the built-in satnav in heavy traffic conditions

I think these subscription-based services are directed at people who choose Columbus infotainment system and want their Škoda car to feel as premium as it can be.

I've got the Columbus with the inbuilt SIM so can't comment on how good the Amundsen is but I can't really see it getting any 'lesser' traffic information.

As for the 'traffic conditions', who's to know if it's going to be good or bad, before or during a journey?

 

5 hours ago, pa_ko said:

Well for Columbus owners online map updates are maybe only option that matters (yet good old SD card method for free is still there do perform quarterly).

But for Amundsen it is totally worthless.

And Traffic Conditions are quite inaccurate too in most areas I compared to Google maps.

I chose to update via the maps via the SD card and most people do so I wouldn't class that as a core part of Connect.

 

5 hours ago, pa_ko said:

Check if traffic conditions are accurate and relevant in your area. I found it to be far away from Google Maps traffic which is very accurate worldwide.

I took the opportunity to do that this morning and here's the results.

 

There's not too much of a difference IMHO but the 'convenience' of not having to connect your phone each journey is probably worth 84p/week!

 

Does anyone actually know where Skoda gets it's data from?

22 minutes ago, john999boy said:

I've got the Columbus with the inbuilt SIM so can't comment on how good the Amundsen is but I can't really see it getting any 'lesser' traffic information.

As for the 'traffic conditions', who's to know if it's going to be good or bad, before or during a journey?

 

I chose to update via the maps via the SD card and most people do so I wouldn't class that as a core part of Connect.

 

I took the opportunity to do that this morning and here's the results.

 

There's not too much of a difference IMHO but the 'convenience' of not having to connect your phone each journey is probably worth 84p/week!

 

Does anyone actually know where Skoda gets it's data from?

 

How do you mean: convenience' of not having to connect your phone each journey?

 

Convenience would be to have these traffic data without paying additional for what is free on any phone. Don get your point that niwdays s so expensive and requires yearly subscription. It is simply very trivial technical matter to out Google data on infotainment via any available internet connection I already pay for.

 

No for me it is not justified.