• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind

2

Scott Bessent casually says the U.S. has more than $1 trillion in gold—and that it doesn’t matter for the dollar

3

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock

1

The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind

2

Scott Bessent casually says the U.S. has more than $1 trillion in gold—and that it doesn’t matter for the dollar

3

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock

Verizon’s Hum could boost connected car market

By
Kif Leswing
Kif Leswing
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Kif Leswing
Kif Leswing
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 26, 2015, 4:11 PM ET
Verizon Hum
Verizon HumVerizon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Verizon’s newly launched Hum service sounds a lot like aftermarket OnStar: it can call for roadside assistance in the case of a breakdown, and will dispatch emergency services if it detects an accident, all through a Verizon (VZ) cellular connection.

The Hum, which provides drivers with up-to-date information about their car’s health, isn’t the only connected car device on the market. It’s awfully similar to cheaper products that plug into your car’s onboard diagnostic port currently offered by two other well-funded connected car startups: Automatic Labs and Zubie.

It’s never a good sign for a startup when a giant corporation releases a similar product, but the auto telematics world is small enough at this time that a big brand, like Verizon, entering the market might boost consumer awareness about the entire category.

“One issue that’s keeping the market back is that the main providers in the market are small brands, unknown brands, so they have limited traction, limited marketing dollars to push these kinds of services,” says Jennifer Kent, research director at Park Associates. “It’s likely all of the players in this market could get a bump from Verizon.”

One key area where startups could distinguish themselves from Verizon is on price. Automatic Labs sells a $99 device that plugs into a car’s on-board diagnostics port. However, it doesn’t offer a cellular subscription just yet, but will reportedly be added to its next device. Meanwhile, its main competitor Zubie sells a device that includes cellular connection for a year, as well as similar connected features, in its $99 price.

Verizon’s Hum device is free, but the service costs $15 per month—and you’ve got to sign up for a two-year contract. Despite research that suggests that a majority of car owners would like to bundle their vehicle and smartphone data plans together, Hum is currently billed separately from its smartphone plans. Verizon is also unlikely to experiment with alternative business models that could eliminate the fee, in exchange for driver data.

Meanwhile, both startups offer features that Verizon doesn’t. For instance, Zubie can “monitor and coach” teen drivers, which is attractive to parents with teens behind the wheel for the first time. Zubie can also monitor whether a car leaves a geographic area and send an alert to parents. Automatic’s app includes Apple Watch support, as well as a program for novice drivers. Verizon’s main selling point is safety with its ability to automatically dispach roadside assistance, like OnStar.

When it comes to security, Hum matches up much better in terms of features and price to OnStar, which starts at $20 per month, and must be built into a car. Drivers can’t easily pop OnStar modules in and out of vehicles, so if drivers might want to to update their wireless connection down the line, Hum could be attractive. Still, it’s hard to imagine someone with OnStar built-in opting for an aftermarket alternative.

Verizon could have an edge in the enterprise market, which may hold the most potential for these kind of devices. Companies might prefer to outfit their fleets with vehicle trackers sporting a reliable, tamper-proof Verizon connection. Automatic’s last funding round was led by San Antonio-based insurance provider USAA, which is investigating how to use Automatic to change how it provides insurance to its customers. Zubie is working with Ohio-based insurance provider Progressive to offer discounts based on Zubie Key data.

“Verizon Telematics has a lot of experience and they can easily support large-scale insurance-type deployments in a way that the startups might not be able to manage at the moment,” says Kent.

The market for an aftermarket cellular car connection is potentially huge. According to its release, Hum is compatible with more than 150 million vehicles in the United States. Verizon getting involved in the growing connected market means many drivers could soon have a device, even if they don’t end up using Verizon’s cellular service.

Sign up for Data Sheet, Fortune’s daily newsletter about the business of technology.

About the Author
By Kif Leswing
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in

Can Bangkok future-proof itself against the heat?
CommentaryThailand
Can Bangkok future-proof itself against the heat?
By Curtis S. Chin and Ella TanJuly 23, 2026
39 minutes ago
Photo of Mark Zuckerberg
AIMark Zuckerberg
‘Call us whatever the hell you want’: Mark Zuckerberg just launched an AI optimism blitz using nostalgia to sell Meta’s AI future amid backlash
By Mia OsmonbekovJuly 23, 2026
47 minutes ago
Saudi Arabia takes center stage as oil hits $100 and the Iran war escalates amid Houthi attacks and nuclear expansion
EnergyDonald Trump
Saudi Arabia takes center stage as oil hits $100 and the Iran war escalates amid Houthi attacks and nuclear expansion
By Jordan BlumJuly 23, 2026
1 hour ago
bots
AIAI agents
Turns out Dead Internet Theory was right: AI agents are eating the Web, growing by nearly 8,000% and rewiring the Internet’s business model
By Mia OsmonbekovJuly 23, 2026
1 hour ago
sam altman speaks
AIOpenAI
OpenAI debuts ChatGPT Voice so you can have ongoing conversations, ask the AI to complete tasks while hands-free
By Emily ForliniJuly 23, 2026
2 hours ago
LeBron James wearing Miami Heat jersey.
Arts & EntertainmentSports
The Miami Heat, LeBron James and prediction markets: how a ‘mistake’ social media post turbo-charged a $245 million wager
By Catherina Gioino and Joshua HongJuly 23, 2026
2 hours ago

Most Popular

The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
Real Estate
The millennial generation has split, new Fed research shows: Those over 35 are edging toward boomer-style wealth, while everyone else falls behind
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 22, 2026
1 day ago
Scott Bessent casually says the U.S. has more than $1 trillion in gold—and that it doesn’t matter for the dollar
Economy
Scott Bessent casually says the U.S. has more than $1 trillion in gold—and that it doesn’t matter for the dollar
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 22, 2026
1 day ago
Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
Success
Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 20, 2026
3 days ago
'The man who dies rich dies disgraced': The last time America had such wealth inequality, Andrew Carnegie knew he had to give it all away
Success
'The man who dies rich dies disgraced': The last time America had such wealth inequality, Andrew Carnegie knew he had to give it all away
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 22, 2026
1 day ago
Mathematicians grapple with a ‘very rapid and very unsettling change’ as AI cracks yet another century-old problem
AI
Mathematicians grapple with a ‘very rapid and very unsettling change’ as AI cracks yet another century-old problem
By Eva RoytburgJuly 21, 2026
2 days ago
Despite a $156 million contract, Knicks star Jalen Brunson still calls his parents for financial advice any time he makes a big purchase
Success
Despite a $156 million contract, Knicks star Jalen Brunson still calls his parents for financial advice any time he makes a big purchase
By Emma BurleighJuly 21, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.