2018 Panamera/Question about embedded SIM and Wi-Fi Hotspot
Pro
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 682
Likes: 49
I talked to my local dealer yesterday and he arranged for the SIM to be sent out from corporate (I assume). It arrived via FedEx today - sooner than I expected. The AT&T SIM was in a little Porsche/AT&T branded envelope and attached to a 2-sided "brochure" card about wireless connectivity. The dealer implied it was just for creating a hotspot for the driver and passengers, but I figured I'd try it ... and it worked - giving me connectivity to Amazon Music and radio.net, which was my goal.
Track Day
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
When you get the SIM, keep the "CCIM" number from the SIM handy - it's printed on the credit card sized holder that you pop the SIM card out of. Put the SIM into the slot in the glove box and direct your phone to connect to the car wifi. The name and password is the same one you probably already set up through the PCM device manager for the embedded SIM. Your phone will (after a brief but initially concerning delay) automatically take you to my.vehicle.att.com where you will ultimately make an account. It will first have you select the vehicle make. Then you enter the CCIM number and it should say you have 3 free months (or 3GB) of usage before having to pay. As I recall, the choice was $10/month for 1GB or $20/month for unlimited. You don't have to select or pay anything until the trial period expires. I happen to have AT&T and still had to make a new account for this service.
TIP on AT&T SIM Setup: One mistake I made was not having a second way to access email in the car when I set it up the first time. During the activation process, AT&T sends a verification number to your email address that you need to enter. When I used my phone to go to email, the AT&T account setup screen closed and I had to start all over again. If you can check your email separately and then enter the code during the account setup process, it should go much more smoothly
Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 402
Likes: 132
From: Los Angeles
I'm sure you can use the AT&T SIM card. It is used to connect the PCM WiFi to the internet. Once it is set up, your phone will connect to the WiFi (and thus access to the internet) irrespective of your cell provider.
When you get the SIM, keep the "CCIM" number from the SIM handy - it's printed on the credit card sized holder that you pop the SIM card out of. Put the SIM into the slot in the glove box and direct your phone to connect to the car wifi. The name and password is the same one you probably already set up through the PCM device manager for the embedded SIM. Your phone will (after a brief but initially concerning delay) automatically take you to my.vehicle.att.com where you will ultimately make an account. It will first have you select the vehicle make. Then you enter the CCIM number and it should say you have 3 free months (or 3GB) of usage before having to pay. As I recall, the choice was $10/month for 1GB or $20/month for unlimited. You don't have to select or pay anything until the trial period expires. I happen to have AT&T and still had to make a new account for this service.
TIP on AT&T SIM Setup: One mistake I made was not having a second way to access email in the car when I set it up the first time. During the activation process, AT&T sends a verification number to your email address that you need to enter. When I used my phone to go to email, the AT&T account setup screen closed and I had to start all over again. If you can check your email separately and then enter the code during the account setup process, it should go much more smoothly
When you get the SIM, keep the "CCIM" number from the SIM handy - it's printed on the credit card sized holder that you pop the SIM card out of. Put the SIM into the slot in the glove box and direct your phone to connect to the car wifi. The name and password is the same one you probably already set up through the PCM device manager for the embedded SIM. Your phone will (after a brief but initially concerning delay) automatically take you to my.vehicle.att.com where you will ultimately make an account. It will first have you select the vehicle make. Then you enter the CCIM number and it should say you have 3 free months (or 3GB) of usage before having to pay. As I recall, the choice was $10/month for 1GB or $20/month for unlimited. You don't have to select or pay anything until the trial period expires. I happen to have AT&T and still had to make a new account for this service.
TIP on AT&T SIM Setup: One mistake I made was not having a second way to access email in the car when I set it up the first time. During the activation process, AT&T sends a verification number to your email address that you need to enter. When I used my phone to go to email, the AT&T account setup screen closed and I had to start all over again. If you can check your email separately and then enter the code during the account setup process, it should go much more smoothly
Last edited by jtorrebl; May 3, 2018 at 11:34 AM.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 282
Likes: 56
From: New Jersey
I'm sure you can use the AT&T SIM card. It is used to connect the PCM WiFi to the internet. Once it is set up, your phone will connect to the WiFi (and thus access to the internet) irrespective of your cell provider.
When you get the SIM, keep the "CCIM" number from the SIM handy - it's printed on the credit card sized holder that you pop the SIM card out of. Put the SIM into the slot in the glove box and direct your phone to connect to the car wifi. The name and password is the same one you probably already set up through the PCM device manager for the embedded SIM. Your phone will (after a brief but initially concerning delay) automatically take you to my.vehicle.att.com where you will ultimately make an account. It will first have you select the vehicle make. Then you enter the CCIM number and it should say you have 3 free months (or 3GB) of usage before having to pay. As I recall, the choice was $10/month for 1GB or $20/month for unlimited. You don't have to select or pay anything until the trial period expires. I happen to have AT&T and still had to make a new account for this service.
TIP on AT&T SIM Setup: One mistake I made was not having a second way to access email in the car when I set it up the first time. During the activation process, AT&T sends a verification number to your email address that you need to enter. When I used my phone to go to email, the AT&T account setup screen closed and I had to start all over again. If you can check your email separately and then enter the code during the account setup process, it should go much more smoothly
When you get the SIM, keep the "CCIM" number from the SIM handy - it's printed on the credit card sized holder that you pop the SIM card out of. Put the SIM into the slot in the glove box and direct your phone to connect to the car wifi. The name and password is the same one you probably already set up through the PCM device manager for the embedded SIM. Your phone will (after a brief but initially concerning delay) automatically take you to my.vehicle.att.com where you will ultimately make an account. It will first have you select the vehicle make. Then you enter the CCIM number and it should say you have 3 free months (or 3GB) of usage before having to pay. As I recall, the choice was $10/month for 1GB or $20/month for unlimited. You don't have to select or pay anything until the trial period expires. I happen to have AT&T and still had to make a new account for this service.
TIP on AT&T SIM Setup: One mistake I made was not having a second way to access email in the car when I set it up the first time. During the activation process, AT&T sends a verification number to your email address that you need to enter. When I used my phone to go to email, the AT&T account setup screen closed and I had to start all over again. If you can check your email separately and then enter the code during the account setup process, it should go much more smoothly
Track Day
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
Pro
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 682
Likes: 49
So I asked my Dealer about the AT&T Sim card and he told me you don't need it; the embedded Sim card should do everything perfectly. I then called Porsche Connect Support and they told me the same thing. She said the 2018 cars don't need the AT&T Sim card. So I will wait until I get my car back from the detailer and see what happens.
Track Day
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
So I asked my Dealer about the AT&T Sim card and he told me you don't need it; the embedded Sim card should do everything perfectly. I then called Porsche Connect Support and they told me the same thing. She said the 2018 cars don't need the AT&T Sim card. So I will wait until I get my car back from the detailer and see what happens.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 78
Likes: 1
So I asked my Dealer about the AT&T Sim card, and he told me you don't need it; the embedded Sim card should do everything perfectly. I then called Porsche Connect Support, and they told me the same thing. She said the 2018 cars don't need the AT&T Sim card. So I will wait until I get my car back from the detailer and see what happens.
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Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 402
Likes: 132
From: Los Angeles
Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 402
Likes: 132
From: Los Angeles
wow dealers?! With the att card you have google earth and live traffic. As well as all the apps like Twitter, etc
Last edited by jtorrebl; May 3, 2018 at 03:49 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 78
Likes: 1
From what I know, the dealerships are supposed to provide us the att sim card for a "trial" period, but I never received one. I was told that the sim is embedded and I don't need one. I can use the navigation, but traffic is not updated. I can't see myself paying $10/$20 monthly just to have updated traffic and other apps when I can use my phone.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 402
Likes: 132
From: Los Angeles
From what I know, the dealerships are supposed to provide us the att sim card for a "trial" period, but I never received one. I was told that the sim is embedded and I don't need one. I can use the navigation, but traffic is not updated. I can't see myself paying $10/$20 monthly just to have updated traffic and other apps when I can use my phone.
the apps were gimmicky but there once you have traffic anyway.
i really wanted that gracenote album art to update my new tracks in music but it doesn’t work.
Last edited by jtorrebl; May 5, 2018 at 02:32 AM.
Track Day
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
I can't explain why different dealers have different knowledge. Mine wasn't sure why the apps didn't work for me and made a call to someone at Porsche. Ten minutes later, my salesperson advised me that Porsche would send me a SIM card via FedEx. I received it the following day, mounted in a fully branded, custom brochure about the Porsche Connect service, with a Porsche vehicle image and AT&T logos all over it. It wasn't just a SIM card in a generic envelope .. it was in Porsche Connect-specific, thoughtfully prepared packaging.
The pre-installed, non-removable SIM does NOT allow your phone's Porsche Connect app to access the internet through the PCM. Therefore you will not be able to use apps like Amazon Music or radio.net, and apparently Google Traffic. You need the removable, pop-in SIM. Sorry if it the service is through AT&T and you use a different carrier for your cell service. It's really not a big deal to register and make an account for it with AT&T. They automatically give you 3 months free or XX GB of usage before you have to pay.
The pre-installed, non-removable SIM does NOT allow your phone's Porsche Connect app to access the internet through the PCM. Therefore you will not be able to use apps like Amazon Music or radio.net, and apparently Google Traffic. You need the removable, pop-in SIM. Sorry if it the service is through AT&T and you use a different carrier for your cell service. It's really not a big deal to register and make an account for it with AT&T. They automatically give you 3 months free or XX GB of usage before you have to pay.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 242
From: CARB state, USA
I was in a new Panamera 4 E-Hybrid at a dealership yesterday, and traffic was displayed on the Google satellite map -- I checked. And I'm pretty sure there was only the embedded card.
Has anybody else with a 2018 Panamera 4 E-Hybrid found that traffic (meaning color-coded to show traffic flow) found that it works with only the embedded card? I'm wondering if I should just order the pop-in SIM card just in case (for my new car, which is on the ship now). (I don't need a wifi hotspot from the car, so wouldn't get the pop-in card for that alone, but I do want the traffic-flow colors on my map.)
Has anybody else with a 2018 Panamera 4 E-Hybrid found that traffic (meaning color-coded to show traffic flow) found that it works with only the embedded card? I'm wondering if I should just order the pop-in SIM card just in case (for my new car, which is on the ship now). (I don't need a wifi hotspot from the car, so wouldn't get the pop-in card for that alone, but I do want the traffic-flow colors on my map.)