Ford device to increase connectivity in its cars without modems

Ford Motor stated on Friday it would sell a plug-in device to allow functions like remote start, security signals, a Wifi hotspot and car location assistance on 2010-2016 model year Ford and Lincoln vehicles.

The device would take on comparable products sold by other companies, including devices from AT&T and Verizon that include a Wifi hotspot to older model cars.

The SmartLink in the Ford device enables models that do not come pre-equipped with a modem to be more linked, making it possible for doors to be locked and unlocked from remotely and providing engine management signals, the company stated.

The after-market gadget, which plugs into the vehicle’s OBD II port below the steering wheel, would be sold at dealerships starting this summer. Ford did not reveal a cost.

All U.S. cars developed after 1996 model year are authorized by law to have an OBD II port, which has traditionally been used for on board diagnostics.

Automakers stress third-party gadgets can disrupt their own embedded systems, introduce security bugs, and make use of data they state is their own, such as the vehicle’s health or kilometers driven.