[Nefdoc]

I am starting this thread to simplify the search for bluetooth compatible phones and services in the United States... Both BMW and Mobile Phones at worldwide phenomena!!! so the europeans and other places can start threads like this on their own...

The official BMW list of compatible phones (and carriers) is grossly inadequate and makes one wonder if there were kickbacks involved in promoting just three wireless carriers!!! Or maybe the BMW people have not had a chance to try out each phone...

So there is good news for people who have other carriers and are wondering if they'd have to switch to make their phones work with their cars.... My advise will be to keep their carriers if they are happy with them and check this post out to see if any phone is available that works with their car...

I have U.S. Cellular which is a midwest based cell phone company... their service is great and they have an option that suits me very well ... Free incoming calls!!! When I got my new car in June 06. BMW 3.25xi, I was due for a phone upgrade so I got the Razr v3c CDMA that they were offering... Results works perfectly with my car. Able to make and recieve calls, phone book transferred.

U.S. Cellular Motorola RAZR V3c CDMA WORKS! (No issues as of yet)..

Ciao

[Kuma]

There are only 3 major carriers in the US, the rest of the smaller carriers rent towers and bandwidth from the 3 main providers.

Sprint
Cingular
Verizon

I believe there is a sticky thread about compatible phones and their levels of compatibility.

Ed

[Nefdoc]

AHA!!!
So that means that EVERY small carrier with a same phone as the ones carried by BIG carriers work???

[LarryK1000]

I have Verizon Motorola E815 and my nephew has the Motorola Razr V3, I believe.

Both work just fine, including the full phone book transfer.

It's important for people to specify TWO (2) things about their phones:

1. Does it connect? (Bluetooth issue); and
2. Does the Phonebook transfer?

Those are the key items. Some phone connect (#1), but won't transfer the Phonebook (#2).

Good luck all.

Larry

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by Kuma

There are only 3 major carriers in the US, the rest of the smaller carriers rent towers and bandwidth from the 3 main providers.

Sprint
Cingular
Verizon

I believe there is a sticky thread about compatible phones and their levels of compatibility.

Ed

Sorry but that is incorrect. There are four, you left out T-Mobile.

[Silver bullet]

My Motorola E815 with verizon works exstreamly well. It even works when the phone is not in the car. When my car is in the garage and my wife's phone is in her purse in the house I can still make calls from the car on her phone. As soon as I back out it unpairs. I alwas asumed that the phone had to be inside the car to work. I guess it just has to be close.

[Kuma]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Sorry but that is incorrect. There are four, you left out T-Mobile.

T-Mobile uses Cingulars network in the US T-Mobile doesnt own their own towers in the US, they lease them from Cingular.

Ed

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by Silver bullet

My Motorola E815 with verizon works exstreamly well. It even works when the phone is not in the car. When my car is in the garage and my wife's phone is in her purse in the house I can still make calls from the car on her phone. As soon as I back out it unpairs. I alwas asumed that the phone had to be inside the car to work. I guess it just has to be close.

The car and the phone just have to be within the 30 foot range of the Bluetooth network of each other. It doesn't unpair, it simply disconnects. If you move outside the range and then back into the range the BT connection is reestablished.

Pairing is a one time activity. When you take the phone away from the car and walk down the block, and then come back you don't have to re-pair the phone. If you want to use the phone in another BT equiped car you must pair it with that car once.

You can have up to four phones paired with the car at one time. The phones connect in reverse order of pairing, i.e., the fourth paired phone connects before the third paired phone which connects before the second paired phone, etc. when all four are within BT network range. The phone book that appears is the phone book for the connected phone.

[puck724]

Originally Posted by Kuma

T-Mobile uses Cingulars network in the US T-Mobile doesnt own their own towers in the US, they lease them from Cingular.

Ed

i thought that tmobile had their own towers and then they bought cingulars old towers after the cingular/att and thing.


anyway. i had the -

motorola razrV3 and it connected and the phonebook transfered.

now i have-

the motorola SLVR and it also connects with the phonebook transfer. both phones are with tmobile service.

[Kuma]

Originally Posted by puck724

i thought that tmobile had their own towers and then they bought cingulars old towers after the cingular/att and thing.


anyway. i had the -

motorola razrV3 and it connected and the phonebook transfered.

now i have-

the motorola SLVR and it also connects with the phonebook transfer. both phones are with tmobile service.

In California and Nevada T-Mobile bought some of the towers post ATT merger, but i believe overall they are still leeching off of cingular.

My Samsung A-900 Blade works fine in my car. the only quirks are that i cant transfer my phone book, and at times the other party has to hang up or else i have to hit the end button on my phone.

[two piece]

Samsung A920 works just fine in my wife's new e90 330i.

[robzeko]

Does the A920 transfer the phone book too?