[dougt]

The UVO remote access system has been renamed Kia Connect, using the Kia eServices app (some definitions and contact number at bottom of this post).

So I bought my 2021 Seltos on 11/2/20... I see on my owners.kia.com account and also on my Kia Access app on my phone that my "Ultimate" access (which we got free for a year) ends on 12/2/20 (a month later than I thought it would expire). For Android, anyway, the app is still called "Kia Access with UVO Link" from what I can tell !

I imagine a lot of owners are going to have to make a choice about whether to continue the Kia eServices app. Not inexpensive, that's for sure.... Here is a summary and the detailed comparison I found at owners.kia.com. FYI. Last of all there is this footnote - I will definitely call before mine expires:

*Some subscribers nearing the end of their free trial may see a discounted price. Please log into the Owner's Portal or contact the Call Center for more information. ​

From web:
Kia eServices requires a compatible phone to be connected to the vehicle via a USB cable. Kia eServices provides features such as My POIs1, Vehicle Diagnostics2 Parking Minder3, and more, accessed through the Kia eServices app. Kia Connect is an embedded system with a modem built into the vehicle that supports all the functionalities of Kia eServices plus a variety of features like remote commands4, Find My Car5, and many more through the Kia Access app and Kia Owner’s Portal.

Questions? Call us at: (844) 886-9411

Available 7 days a week from 5am PST to 6pm PST

 

[Ricky10]

Mine just ran out on the 24th, which was also 13 months from my purchase date. I wasn’t thinking about it too much, but I realized within the past few days that my weather widget was no longer functioning. I didn’t realize that was something tied into a subscription, and nowhere even seems to say that it is. It wasn’t all that accurate, but it looked cool as one of my three widgets. I never did the updates so I still have the 3 way split screen. This is how it looks now.

 

[Ricky10]

I never received a notification about calling ahead before expiration for a reduced rate on the subscriptions. I will definitely have no choice but to purchase the “plus” plan, as I need the half ass option to start my Seltos from my phone when at work during the winter and in snowstorms. The range on the key fob itself does nothing for me at work.

It’s quite ridiculous to say the least that we have to pay for these features..

 

[dougt]

Ah, the old 3 widget days... You're right, I just went thru all the fine print on the features of each plan and nowhere does it mention the weather stuff.... Interesting.... Wonder if they expect you to do the upgrade....and it's part of that...?

I have these notes about Weather - wonder if the voice command would work for you - although if you didn't renew I would be surprised if it did:

Here are all the eServices plans:

Compare Packages

owners.kia.com

 

[Ricky10]

Ah, the old 3 widget days... You're right, I just went thru all the fine print on the features of each plan and nowhere does it mention the weather stuff.... Interesting.... Wonder if they expect you to do the upgrade....and it's part of that...?

I have these notes about Weather - wonder if the voice command would work for you - although if you didn't renew I would be surprised if it did: View attachment 1094

Here are all the eServices plans:

Compare Packages

owners.kia.com

You mean like voice command for POI’s? Or voice ”call” ”text” someone in my contacts via Bluetooth?

 

[dougt]

"Kia connect voice assist" is one of the ultimate package items, one of the few items that are just in the Ultimate pkg. Below is the fine print for what that is. This could be something useful I think. The fine print shows the distinction between Bluetooth and these ultimate functions.
____

Kia Connect Voice Assist allows your vehicle to search online for your POIs, instead of using the in-vehicle’s offline search, providing you with better search results.

Note: Bluetooth features, like call or text, do not depend on Kia Connect Voice Assist and do not require a Kia Connect subscription.

 

[Ricky10]

Yeah, I don’t think I need any of that

As of now I think I may just pay month to month for the plus subscription, as I really only need my phone app features during the winter months. Maybe 5 months or so starting now…which would be $75. I didn’t use my phone app at all during warmer months..

 

[Chappy]

Hello, here in Canada we received a 3 year free subscription to UVO.I have used some of the features occasionally but when it comes due there isn't anything for me that would be worth $225.00 a year.

 

[FriFred]

Picked up my SX in May 2020 and set up a UVO account at that time. But, since then I have never used it at all, so I just let it go when my free year was up. Nothing there that I need.

 

[Ricky10]

Hello, here in Canada we received a 3 year free subscription to UVO.I have used some of the features occasionally but when it comes due there isn't anything for me that would be worth $225.00 a year.

Well that’s not surprising. KIA gave Americans the shaft by omitting many features in regard to the Seltos. HUD, ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, folding mirrors etc. Granted, the only one of those I really care about is a heated steering wheel. That one remains quite surprising to me. It’s basically a standard feature on American cars, especially upper level trims.

I think Hyundai was offering 3 years free or their phone app, as well as 3 years free maintenance. From what I have seen, most car companies offer at least one of those or both. On top of that, I think many of them don’t ever charge for the phone app features.

Picked up my SX in May 2020 and set up a UVO account at that time. But, since then I have never used it at all, so I just let it go when my free year was up. Nothing there that I need.

As I said, I need it given the fact that I live in a cold climate and circumstances at my job that don’t allow me to run out and start my car to melt any ice and such before driving home.

I am going to try and call the KIA access phone number and see if they will still give me a reduced rate on the plus subscription for 1 year even though I already let it expire a few weeks ago. I simply wasn’t aware that reduced rates were offered If you call to sign up before your current subscription expires.

If KIA has any degree of interest in appreciating their customers, they will honor a reduced rate for me.

We shall see

 

[Ricky10]

So I just called KIA connect. The representative said he had never heard of any discounts being given on subscriptions including before expiration of your current plan.

Typical!

 

[Ricky10]

I just renewed on a monthly basis for the plus subscription. Unfortunately, my weather widget still doesn’t work as before and just shows the current temperature. Oh well…

Maybe it was discontinued because everyone but me has done the update to the non 3-way split screen format

For anyone considering purchasing a plan, the monthly option self renews every month until you cancel it- which is what I will be doing in the spring.

Also, there was a spot to enter a “promo code” upon purchasing the plan. So obviously there are or where discounts out there.

 

[dougt]

Re price of UVO subscription.... I had a long talk with UVO Support yesterday as the "Valet" feature has been updated in the latest s/w updated out on 11/8, last Monday. (Another thing that no one uses but I turn it on when it's in for service just for grins - the updated Valet feature gives you more info while it's in the mode, but I just get a pop-up saying you have to call UVO Support to get it activated, but when I did, they don't know nothing... The original Kia Connect Valet feature still seems to work - with some pre-set amount of miles you can travel, then the "Valet Alert" pops up on the screen and you get notified on the app, etc.).
Anyway, I was talking to a 'lead' who seemed to know things about UVO. I complained about the high price. He said that maybe he could arrange some kind of discount since we have been Kia/Hyu owners since 2002.... Not sure I believe him. In any case, he said you have to order the plan first, then try to reach him.... The big difference between the top 2 is that the top subscription uses 'the cloud' 1) to plan route/knows about traffic better, etc., and 2) to handle the push to talk voice requests you can make - makes for a more 'Google like' experience of asking questions re destinations, etc. etc. You can also send POI's to your car from the app - makes it easier to get locations in the car's nav system... Those are the three differences....