Airbiquity's business model was to develop, deploy, and support the ongoing management of connected car programs for automotive industry customers.

The company was founded in 1997 as Integrated Data Communications Inc. located on Bainbridge Island across the Puget Sound from Seattle.

[3] The introduction of aqLink was followed by a series of product upgrades and line extensions, including aqServer for transmission, receipt and processing of information transported to data and call center providers over UMTS, CDMA, TDMA or GSM wireless network voice channels.

[4] In 2001, Airbiquity secured a contract with General Motors to license aqLink technology to support location-based communications for its OnStar service.

[6] The ability to provide voice and data services marked the start of branded connected car programs from automakers seeking to differentiate their vehicles from competitors.