The connected car aftermarket solution from Verizon Wireles, hum is on sale until tomorrow evening. Verizon is offering $20 off hum through a credit on the first bill.The hum system provides an app roadside, emergency assistance, speed/location tracking, car diagnostics, and more. It has become popular for use by parents to track teen drivers as well as relatives of elderly drivers.
“Whether your loved one behind the wheel is an aging parent or teenager or you’re a family with young children, hum gives drivers added peace of mind when they’re on the road,” said Marie McGehee spokeswoman for hum by Verizon.
The hum by Verizon system is installed through an onboard diagnostic (OBD) reader that is plugged into the vehicle’s OBD port, and a Bluetooth-enabled speakerphone that is clipped to the visor. After installing the devices the user pays a monthly subscription that also includes the use of a smartphone app or web portal, where the subscriber can monitor their car. The speakerphone can also pair via Bluetooth to the subscriber’s cellular phone for hands-free calling.
The hum system was launched in the fall of 2015 and was recently updated to include boundary alerts, speed alerts and location. The system is available for most cars of the 1996 and newer.
Boundary alerts allow subscribers to establish boundaries for their vehicle and receive a notification when the vehicle enters or exits the area. Speed alerts send warnings when the car travels faster than a maximum speed to multiple family members via the hum smartphone app, text or email. The vehicle location shows a map-based tracking of the vehicle’s location, speed and travel direction, allowing subscribers to view the past five requested locations. The driving history shows key trip-based driving information to track driving efficiency, including duration, start and end times, idle times and maximum/average speeds.
Through precise GPS-based technology, hum also helps accurately dispatch advanced roadside assistance, alerts emergency personnel of a car’s location if a crash is detected, and assists authorities in locating a vehicle that has been reported stolen.
Popular uses for vehicle locating is when someone parks on a street parking spot in an unfamiliar area or in large parking lot such as those at parking mail and forgets the exact location.
hum helps predict potential issues, prevent breakdowns and offers protection when problems do arise. Upon pressing a button, drivers receive diagnostic information, roadside assistance and can get a live consultation with ASE-certified mechanics and emergency personnel on-demand. hum also provides maintenance reminders, parking assistance, incident alerts and emergency assistance, and vehicle diagnostics.
Reporting features within the hum web portal and app allow users to see changes such as a decline in gas mileage. The subscriber can contact a mechanic for assistance who might suggest changing the fuel filter or a tune-up. Subscribers can also set up reminders such as an oil change or tire rotation according to the mileage of the car to be sent via text, email or app notification. The user can also be alerted to when the speakerphone needs to be charge by the 12 Volt port in the car or via a USB charger at home or in the office.
Recently, hum was the center of a wonderful success story. Vjera Ricov, was concerned when her husband Victor Ricov, 87, who suffers from dementia, left their home in Solon, Ohio without his phone. Mr. Ricov was on his way to outlet mall when he made a wrong turn. Mrs. Ricov realized that she had recently purchased a system from Verizon called hum that was installed in the car. Using the hum app she located Mr. Ricov who was miles away and called the police for help.
“I’m very grateful (for hum) and I would suggest that everybody who drives have one,”Vjera Ricov told Cleveland Channel 19 TV News.
The hum system can be purchased by Verizon customers to add on to their Verizon bill and is also now available directly to non-Verizon subscribers in Verizon stores as well as online at hum.com. Get a safer more connected car and $20 off hum, today.