Folks, the introduction of the 2013 JX35 (err, QX60) in 2012, then the 2013 M37 (Q70) marked the first two Infiniti vehicles to have Infiniti Connection (IC) built into the car. All Infinitis starting in 2012 have included Infiniti Personal Assistant (IPA). To clear up the lingo, here's a layman's description of the difference.
Infiniti Personal Assistant - A concierge service you can access from various places - phone, internet, smartphone app, web. IPA comes with every new Infiniti for a period of 4 years.
Infiniti Connection - A telematics service built into new Infinitis. I've heard it referred to as "Onstar on steroids." IC can do lots of things - access your Google calendar to pull up the day's destinations, remotely lock and unlock your car, synchronize news feeds, receive destinations you send from Google maps or the IC web portal, etc. One of the most useful things it can do, however, is connect you to your IPA - from the car, not your cell phone. Once you connect to your IPA, they can also send destinations to the car. IC comes free with select new Infinitis for a period of 1 year. You can subscribe for subsequent years - there are two levels of the service and currently they are $179 and $129 per year, for a total of $309/yr to get what you'll get free the first year.
If you use IC and IPA, it is an awesome service. If you don't, well, you're missing out. Your IPA can help make dinner reservations, order flowers for your significant other, answer weird trivia questions, etc. But what they're really awesome at is finding stuff along your route. Then download those destinations to your car while you drive. Some good examples I've heard from people using IPA/IC:
Where's the nearest In n Out Burger? (good luck searching any POI database for "In n Out")
I'm supposed to meet a friend in Burlingame at a crepe restaurant, but I can't remember the name - can you help me find it?
Is there a decent kosher deli anywhere around here?
I need a new cable for my new iGizmo, who around here has it and how much does it cost? - IPA had one reserved in the client's name and waiting for them at Best Buy when they got there.
How big is the moon? This was posited by the kid in the back seat - got an awesome answer - worthy of putting down on homework.
Where's the cheapest gas station in the NEXT 30 miles? Yes, I know you can search for cheapest gas stations around with your smartphone, but it doesn't know your direction of travel, and it is a PITA to use while driving (and illegal in California for that matter). IPA even knew to ask if we were Costco members as that was the cheapest option - oh, and they asked whether we were after regular or premium fuel.
