Bluetooth and MMI/car phone

[ChrisB]

I'm trying to find out about the telephone and Bluetooth functionality in the A8 and other MMI-functionality infotainment interfaces (new A6 MMI and new DVD Nav+), without much luck.

I know that the A8 can come with either phone preparation or a built-in phone. The phone prep apparently allows a connected phone to be controlled via MMI, but I don't have any confirmation of if it's just a remote interface to the handset or a distinct phone with it's own (more powerful) transmitter that uses SIM and phone book data from the connected mobile.

Then there's the built-in phone. Being fully integrated, I'd expect it has it's own 2W transmitter (8W would be nice though!), and I know there's a SIM slot and an optional Bluetooth privacy handset (so Bluetooth hardware must be fitted). What I don't know is if it supports SIM Access Profile, so that it can use Bluetooth to gather SIM and phone book data from a handset and use this to sign into the network as that subscriber. This would be a killer feature, as you wouldn't need a separate phone number for the car phone, but could get a decent signal while in the car.

At a pinch, if the phone prep was a full kit that used data from the connected phone, I suppose I can live with plugging it it to a cradle, and at least it would be charged up as well.

I found some German text in the audi.de website, this mentioned Bluetooth and what I think was audio accessory searching to treat the car system as a Bluetooth headset. This seems to apply to new A6, TT and A/S4 from construction week 6 this year, if my interpretation of Babelfish's translation is anything like accurate.

Does anyone know what's what with mobiles and Audi's car phone kits? Not even my dealer's A8 specialist can answer the questions to my complete satisfaction...

[peterb]

What I don't know is if it supports SIM Access Profile, so that it can use Bluetooth to gather SIM and phone book data from a handset and use this to sign into the network as that subscriber.

Is this what The Nokia 610 car kit uses (with 6230, 6810 or 6820 phones)? Do any other manufacturers offer the same facilities?
I'm considering going with the Nokia kit in my car.

[ChrisB]

Is this what The Nokia 610 car kit uses (with 6230, 6810 or 6820 phones)? Do any other manufacturers offer the same facilities?

Yes, the 610 is exactly the kind of thing I'm talking about. Unlike the wireless kits, this is a phone in it's own right, so the transmitter is far more powerful than a handset, so you get a better signal and less dropped and boken up calls. I'd have a 610 instead of the CARK-91 I have already if I was buying a car like the RS 6 now, but in something like the A8 or new A6, integrating with MMI would be a far superior option, especially with voice command.

Parrot make a couple of Bluetooth kits, the CK3000 is a basic kit that acts like a Bluetooth audio device, so the intelligence and transceiver functions remain in the handset. The CK3100 is the same thing with a remote LCD display for caller ID, network and signal strength etc.

[d3rm0]

I took delivery of an RS6 Avant a month ago and i have had installed a Parrot Bluetooth kit but i wanted it to "go through" the Nav sytem giving me the ability to mute the system when an incoming call comes in or i make an outgoing call and also the incoming audio to come through the cars front speakers. I have been told that the key to the Nav system is a CD with software that updates your unit to allow a mobile phone to be connected, i am searching the globe for a copy of this cd,i f i find i will let you know

[peterb]

I took delivery of an RS6 Avant a month ago and i have had installed a Parrot Bluetooth kit but i wanted it to "go through" the Nav sytem giving me the ability to mute the system when an incoming call comes in or i make an outgoing call and also the incoming audio to come through the cars front speakers. I have been told that the key to the Nav system is a CD with software that updates your unit to allow a mobile phone to be connected, i am searching the globe for a copy of this cd,i f i find i will let you know

Is this the new DVD-based Nav system, or the older CD based one?

If it's the older system, then what you've been told is a load of bo**ox!

I've installed phone kits (originally a conventional Motorola kit, now the Nokia 610), and audio muting works fine, as does the phone audio through the existing car speakers.

Edit: Ah, I've just checked your other posts - you do have the DVD-based system, so that might be different!

[d3rm0]

I took delivery of an RS6 Avant a month ago and i have had installed a Parrot Bluetooth kit but i wanted it to "go through" the Nav sytem giving me the ability to mute the system when an incoming call comes in or i make an outgoing call and also the incoming audio to come through the cars front speakers. I have been told that the key to the Nav system is a CD with software that updates your unit to allow a mobile phone to be connected, i am searching the globe for a copy of this cd,i f i find i will let you know

Is this the new DVD-based Nav system, or the older CD based one?

If it's the older system, then what you've been told is a load of bo**ox!

I've installed phone kits (originally a conventional Motorola kit, now the Nokia 610), and audio muting works fine, as does the phone audio through the existing car speakers.

Edit: Ah, I've just checked your other posts - you do have the DVD-based system, so that might be different!

Yes that brand new DVD,3D,MP3,Widescreen all singin all dancing but no mute facility, that is all i am looking for, i keep missing calls as i have the volume up so loud!

p.s The info was not from an Audi dealer but a telephone engineer who is pretty good on things like this