T-Mobile device makes older cars ‘connected’

T-Mobile is offering SyncUp Drive, a device that turns any post-1996 car into a 4G LTE connected car — a Wi-Fi hotspot that also provides vehicle diagnostics, safety and security features. The device is being offered as an incentive with two-year service plans, or separately.

SyncUp Drive plugs in to a car’s OBD-II (on-board diagnostics) port, which is standard on autos built after 1996. The device is always on, doesn’t require charging and can be managed from a smartphone.

Other carriers don’t yet offer 4G solutions. The diagnostic tool HUM by Verizon runs on 2G technology. AT&T has been going a different…