AT&T will support Connect by Hertz

The Hertz Corp. has said that it signed a three-year agreement with U.S. telecom giant AT&T to provide a suite of communication services that allow its representatives to wirelessly enable, monitor and manage Connect by Hertz vehicles remotely.
Joseph Eckroth, senior vice president and chief information officer at The Hertz, said that meeting the company’s customers’ needs and providing car sharing products were key drivers behind developing a wireless solution for Connect by Hertz. “We decided to work with AT&T because we needed a reliable wireless provider whose network could go where our customers are going,” he said.
The solution being provided for Connect by Hertz combines the capabilities and scope of AT&T's wireless and global IP networks and enables Hertz to leverage the benefits of one end-to-end solution and one point of contact.
Moreover, these networks are expected to enable new applications that converges voice, data and video for AT&T business customers.
Connect by Hertz is offering an in-car communication capability that is expected to enhance customer services that allows users to experience the benefits of owning a car, such as anytime access, without worrying about fixed costs or repairs. Throughout the rental time, Connect by Hertz members stay wirelessly in contact so Hertz can remotely communicate with the vehicle - enabling representatives to unlock, engage and locate vehicles, track drive time information and receive car return confirmation.
The new agreement continues a long-standing relationship between Hertz and AT&T. In addition to this latest announcement, Hertz’s airport and local car rental counters and major corporate sites are connected nationwide via the AT&T Virtual Private Network (VPN) service.
Additionally, AT&T Managed Internet Service supports the Hertz Web site where customers can make reservations online and Hertz call centers use AT&T toll-free services so that customers can make reservations via phone or get roadside assistance during their rental process.
Hertz indicated that it plans to have 1500 Connect by Hertz vehicles equipped with AT&T wireless service by the year-end.