BMW Leading the Way in Vehicle-Based Bluetooth Technology. BMW Focusing Fully on Bluetooth for Car Telephone Systems.

The most important facts at a glance: - In late 2002 BMW became the
world's first car manufacturer to introduce customer-friendly mobile
telephone systems using Bluetooth in the automobile. - BMW is the world
market leader in vehicle-based Bluetooth technology: Mobile phone
preparation kits with a Bluetooth interface have already been fitted in
645,000 BMW cars. - Bluetooth makes telephone solutions in the
automobile increasingly popular: From 2001 to 2005, the installation
rate of telephones fitted in BMW automobiles has increased in Germany
alone by no less than 63 per cent. In North America nearly all BMW
automobiles are now delivered to the customer with a Bluetooth mobile
phone preparation kit. - Mobile phone preparation kits with a Bluetooth
interface are now available in all BMW model series. - Starting
immediately, BMW is concentrating completely on Bluetooth technology
for telephony in the car in nearly all countries the world over. -
Since autumn 2004, Bluetooth mobile phone technology has also been fully
compatible with the BMW Assist telematics service and the mobile BMW
Online internet portal. - BMW cooperates closely with leading
manufacturers of mobile phones: The Nokia 6230i mobile phone - one of
the most popular mobile phones - has been fully compatible with BMW
cars since its introduction. Munich. Towards the end of 2002, BMW
became the world's first car maker to introduce the Bluetooth
communication standard integrating the mobile phone in the automobile.
"Integrating a mobile phone via Bluetooth technology into the
vehicle is the most customer-friendly, convenient, safest and reliable
way of making telephone calls in the automobile", states Dr.
Joachim Göthel, Head of Development of Telephone Systems, Data
Interfaces, and Bluetooth Technology with the BMW Group. With BMW cars
being prepared for the use of a mobile phone through their Bluetooth
interface, mobile phones readily available in the market can be easily
connected and networked with the car's electronic system, allowing safe
and reliable use of the mobile phone through various entry functions in
the car such as the multifunction steering wheel, the iDrive
Controller, or voice entry including all hands-off voice control
functions. The telephone directory is synchronised with the car's
on-board system and can be consulted conveniently via the radio display
or the on-board monitor. Use of mobile phones recommended by BMW
ensures optimum operation of the telephone system in the car. To
guarantee optimum reception and minimise "electronic smog" in
the automobile, BMW advises users to operate their mobile phone in an
appropriate snap-in adapter connecting the mobile phone to the car's
external aerial and charging the cell phone battery in one and the same
process. Using this technology, the customer no longer requires a
telephone firmly installed in the car, which calls for a separate SIM
card and, in most cases, a separate contract and telephone number. A
further advantage is that with the car growing older the customer is
able to integrate a new mobile phone into the car easier than ever
before. BMW leads the way in the Bluetooth-based integration of mobile
phones in the automobile. "Integrating the Bluetooth mobile
telephone standard in the car, BMW has not just taken over a pioneering
role, but is indeed the market leader", states Dr. Göthel.
With the successive introduction of this customer-friendly technology
in various BMWs starting in late 2002, no less than 645,000 BMW cars
have been equipped to date with a mobile phone preparation kit
featuring a Bluetooth interface. The installation rate of telephones in
the automobile has increased in BMWs sold in Germany by no less than 63
per cent between 2001 and 2005. In North America (USA and Canada)
nearly all BMW cars are now delivered to the customer complete with a
mobile phone preparation kit featuring a Bluetooth interface.
Following the recent introduction of this technology in the BMW 7
Series, Bluetooth-based mobile phone communication is now available in
all BMW model series. In the words of Dr. Göthel: "Today BMW
uses Bluetooth technology for car-based telephone systems 100 per cent
in nearly all countries the world over", with the exception of
special solutions required in some countries such as Japan on account
of national specifications. "Telephones firmly installed in the
car are therefore a thing of the past at BMW", adds Dr.
Göthel. Full availability of telematics services including an
emergency call function. Prior to autumn 2004 the BMW Assist
telematics service and the BMW Online mobile internet portal were not
compatible with mobile phones connected to the car via Bluetooth
technology. Instead, these systems required a firmly installed car
telephone with appropriate telematic capabilities. Introducing the
Preparation kit for mobile phone Business with Bluetooth interface in
autumn 2004, BMW's engineers have developed a customer-friendly
solution also for telematics and online services. In addition to the
Bluetooth interface connecting a mobile phone, this special feature
incorporates its own Telematics Control Unit with a firmly integrated
SIM card operating independently of the mobile phone. This unit serves
exclusively for the use of telematics services. This allows
unrestricted use of BMW Assist and BMW Online, regardless of whether a
mobile phone is currently in the car and whether it is switched on or
off. Hence, BMW Assist is able to make a - possibly life-saving -
emergency call automatically specifying the current location of the car
even while the mobile phone is in use or if there is not even a mobile
phone in the car at the time. The final truly decisive point is that
the customer need not even worry about concluding a contract for a
separate SIM card, since all this is handled directly by BMW AG. In
financial terms, this means that the customer only pays the basic
monthly fee for BMW Assist and BMW Online, comparable to a flat rate.
He does not need to pay additional connection fees and can use the
services as much as he likes (The basic fee in Germany is currently
Euro 175 .-/year for each service, with the first six months being free
of charge). BMW works closely with leading manufacturers of mobile
phones. BMW uses the Bluetooth standard for the integration of mobile
phones in the car. The high degree of implementation requires more than
what has been defined in the Bluetooth standard. Therefore BMW works
closely with leading manufacturers of mobile phones to ensure that
selected mobile phones are compatible with the BMW Bluetooth mobile
phone interface as close as possible to the market introduction of the
phones. Thanks to this, the Nokia 6230i introduced in spring was fully
suitable from the start for unrestricted use in BMW cars. "BMW
will continue to work closely with telephone manufacturers, with the
clear objective to consistently increase the list of compatible mobile
phones", states Dr. Göthel. For reasons of reception quality
and to minimise electronic smog, BMW will continue to recommend mobile
phones in future suitable for direct connection to the car's external
aerial by means of a snap-in adapter. Hence, BMW will ensure that
appropriate snap-in adapters are available in good time. A list of
mobile phones currently recommended or suitable with certain
restrictions in the German market is to be found in the internet at
www.bmw.de (Products - New Cars - [choose appropriate model] - Quick
Links - Compatible Mobile Phones).