Explain Bluetooth Please

[doc1911]

I have a general understanding of the bluetooth concept. Here is what I have run into. I have a 2007 335i w/ Premium Package (and therefore bluetooth). I wanted to utilize the hands-free option with my cell phone and it only partially works. The guy at Cingular says that all bluetooth is the same and any and all phones with bluetooth should work the same in my car. BMW says each bluetooth is a bit different and that is why they have a list of certain phones that work. I am more inclined to go with the explaination from BMW but basically the cell phone company blames the car and BMW blames the phone.
Who is right and why? I'm frustarted and wanted all the info before I get pissed off at teh wrong person.

 

[MrElussive]

They're both right and they're both wrong. Go to BMW's website and checkout the list of BMW approved Bluetooth phones and see if your phone is on the list.

What phone do you have?

 

[doc1911]

I have a LG CU500. The BMW recognizes the phone and visa versa. I can call and receive but the info, like contact list, does not transfer to the car. I know my phone is not on the "appoved list" I really just want to know hope it all works so I can tell the guy at Cingular to stick it and have the info to back it up when I go to exchange the phone

 

[Kirby]

Bluetooth is the wireless technology used for the devices to communicate, and it defines how AUDIO signals are transferred between the devices. Bluetooth does not define how DATA is transferred such as phone book, etc.

That's why BMW specifies a compatibility list. The Cingular guy is half informed, all Bluetooth gear is compatible at wireless/audio comunications, but not at data transfers.

 

[MyHarley]

Go to www.jetwaremobile.com and try out the software for 30 days free, then it will be $14.95 to keep the software. I'm assuming you can download the software into your phone. Many people including me have had success with this software......its worth a try. Many phones will work for sending and answering calls, but it is the directory and caller ID that becomes the booger and this software has been the answer.

Hope this helps......

 

[Average Jae]

kirby, i don't know if bluetooth defines how AUDIO signals are transferred between devices. bluetooth is just a wireless communication protocol, that lets devices talk and transfer data between each other. audio or data are all binary data afterall ^^

while i don't have the complete inner workings of the bmw bluetooth is setup, my thought on the matter is this: (i'm not an engineer, so don't hold me to it, if a defiintion is off or something..)

audio data transfer between the bluetooth module on your car and the phone should be pretty universal, as i assume most bluetooth phones uses a common protocol in handling the audio data. so i'd say majority of bluetooth phones, especially the new ones, should be able to pair up with it. (i only say this, because when bluetooth first came out, some Nokia models could only be paird with specific bluetooth headsets, made for that particular Noika model, or range of models. its been a few years, so details are sketchy to me.)

the phone book data is another matter as, the software in your BMW bluetooth protocol must be compatible with the protocal or data structure your phone supports. i assume that's why BMW has a compatibility list.

Lisha's solution is a software that i assume "translates" whatever data structure non-approved phone supports and "translates it so your BMW bluetooth software can understand and display it.

if you really like the LG phone, $15 clams seems like a bargain for bringing the phone number/ caller id info. (won't anyone make that for ipod your bmw!!!) otherwise, if you are still under trial period, i'd get a new phone that's compatible.

 

[MyHarley]

The saying all men are alike does not hold true and all bluetooth communications are alike does not hold true either. I can guarantee you that all phones with bluetooth will not pair up with the BMW bluetooth. This is where the myth starts. On the BMW website, the Motorola Q is an approved phone with a certain software. The Motorola Q of today does not contain that software as the software has now been upgraded. You cannot purchase a phone now with the old software that BMW says the phone needs and has been tested with. The signal kept dropping after pairing. I had an LG9800 phone and it would pair up and then would drop the signal, then would not pair up again. If you have to purchase a phone, most phone stores will have a demo to try out in your car to see if it will pair up and stay paired up. Yes, the jetwaremobile solves a lot of problems with phone directories, caller ID's, emails and such, but the first problem will be pairing up. Call any performance shop at a BMW dealership and they will tell you their stress levels in dealing with BMW bluetooth and bluetooth phones.

 

[Kirby]

kirby, i don't know if bluetooth defines how AUDIO signals are transferred between devices. bluetooth is just a wireless communication protocol, that lets devices talk and transfer data between each other. audio or data are all binary data afterall ^^

I absolutely agree, I was just trying to keep it simple by distiguishing between audio and data in terms of the user experience, not the underlying technology. Bluetooth defines the audio datastream protocol, but does not define application data.

 

[MyHarley]

I had the 10th Generation BMW Bluetooth installed in my car by bimmernav.com. Martin the actual bimmernav guy did the installation and also lead me to the jetwaremobile.com website. I did have to change phones as it would not pair up with my LG9800. This installation was done in my 2001 740iL with NAV. There are over 400 contacts in my phone book that reflect on the NAV screen plus voice recognition is good and caller ID is a breeze driving down the road. I am going to have a new microphone installed when I get back from overseas in a couple of weeks. It needs to be louder...........finally I can have the CD blaring and not worry whether my cell phone is ringing as the CD sound is shut off and the phone rings.......I love all this new fandangle technology plus it makes for safer driving. The only thing that does not show up yet (havent figured it out yet) is the text messagies, but I can just look at the phone for that when I am in a stopped position. My AOL emails come through but I can't read and drive at the same time so its kind of fruitless. I'm all into safe driving these days and less distractions.

I do recommend bimmernav.com and jetwaremobile.com as the cure alls for older BMW's.