[ska///235i]

when will we get this???

[JSpira]

Sorry but it is not possible anywhere to send a Google map to the satnav system in Idrive.

[ska///235i]

maybe its just sending the destination???

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by ska

maybe its just sending the destination???

Sending the destination has been available in Germany for months now.

Mercedes can do it in the U.S.

Once BMWs come with GSM/GPRS telematics units, BMW can offer this.

[kgoto]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Once BMWs come with GSM/GPRS telematics units, BMW can offer this.

Does this mean that when it is made available in the US that it won't work with current models (for example, my 2007 e92)?

[tintivilus]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Once BMWs come with GSM/GPRS telematics units, BMW can offer this.

Probably won't happen... the Everest TCU's are CDMA

Do cars with Nav and Assist actually have two separate GPS systems, or is everything tied together? I don't see any reason additional electronics would be required, they just need define a standard format for the send-destination message (CDMA-SMS or email or something) and push the data from the TCU to iDrive.

[vivekk]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Sending the destination has been available in Germany for months now.

Mercedes can do it in the U.S.

Once BMWs come with GSM/GPRS telematics units, BMW can offer this.

Hi Jonathan.

I hope you are keeping well.

BMW Assist & the ability to send business locations & phone numbers using Google Maps has been available across Europe & the UK since the end of August '07. The system was initially trialled in Germany from March '07.



The BMW ConnectedDrive web Portal allows subscribers to send locations to their cars' SatNavPro system, to send pre-defined 'answers' to a note attached to sent location 'messages' & also allows users to send free SMS text messages across Europe & to the States.

The whole system provides the Assist 'Info+' service (lets you speak to an information provider on the end of a phone line, who can then send locations straight back to your SatNavPro), the automatic 'Emergency SOS' service (automatically sends your location & opens up a voice channel to BMW Assist on detection of a 'crash' or after pressing the 'SOS' button) & the 'Breakdown' service (sends your location & vehicle direction to BMW Emergency Service & opens up a voice channel).

Cars fitted with the Assist / Online option have an inbuilt GSM SIM card hardwired within the car, so a separate mobile phone is not needed to use any of these services.

BMW Germany has also decided to provide the service free of charge to all European subscribers until 2010.

I posted some information about this some time ago here & here.

Here is some information from the Frankfurt Motor Show, showing BMW Assist & BMW Online in action.

As you can see in the video, BMW Online allows GPRS access to some sites, such as Google Maps, from the in-car iDrive.

Viv

[Ninjaneer]

Originally Posted by ska

when will we get this???

Pretty sweet

[BzsBimmer]

Originally Posted by vivekk

Hi Jonathan.

I hope you are keeping well.

BMW Assist & the ability to send business locations & phone numbers using Google Maps has been available across Europe & the UK since the end of August '07. The system was initially trialled in Germany from March '07.

The BMW ConnectedDrive web Portal allows subscribers to send locations to their cars' SatNavPro system, to send pre-defined 'answers' to a note attached to sent location 'messages' & also allows users to send free SMS text messages across Europe & to the States.

The whole system provides the Assist 'Info+' service (lets you speak to an information provider on the end of a phone line, who can then send locations straight back to your SatNavPro), the automatic 'Emergency SOS' service (automatically sends your location & opens up a voice channel to BMW Assist on detection of a 'crash' or after pressing the 'SOS' button) & the 'Breakdown' service (sends your location & vehicle direction to BMW Emergency Service & opens up a voice channel).

Cars fitted with the Assist / Online option have an inbuilt GSM SIM card hardwired within the car, so a separate mobile phone is not needed to use any of these services.

BMW Germany has also decided to provide the service free of charge to all European subscribers until 2010.

I posted some information about this some time ago

Here is some information from the Frankfurt Motor Show, showing BMW Assist & BMW Online in action.


As you can see in the video, BMW Online allows GPRS access to some sites, such as Google Maps, from the in-car iDrive.

Viv

Let me guess.. we won't get it in the states because of our litigious society

[Technic]

Originally Posted by tintivilus

Probably won't happen... the Everest TCU's are CDMA

Do cars with Nav and Assist actually have two separate GPS systems, or is everything tied together? I don't see any reason additional electronics would be required, they just need define a standard format for the send-destination message (CDMA-SMS or email or something) and push the data from the TCU to iDrive.

Me neither... just pipe the data thru CDMA instead and that's it. Damn, if BMW wanted to they could use any cellular phone GPS system as their main unit and just have a dumb screen in the dash showing whatever is in the cell phone screen as a Nav system...

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by tintivilus

Probably won't happen... the Everest TCU's are CDMA

Correct. That will change soon. GSM is coming.

Originally Posted by tintivilus

Do cars with Nav and Assist actually have two separate GPS systems, or is everything tied together? I don't see any reason additional electronics would be required, they just need define a standard format for the send-destination message (CDMA-SMS or email or something) and push the data from the TCU to iDrive.

No, one unit. They need to do this in GSM because that is what the receiving system supports.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by vivekk

Hi Jonathan.

I hope you are keeping well.

Hi Viv

Great explanation of BMW Online. I enjoyed using it in my 535d which I had for a week last month.

[vivekk]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Hi Viv

Great explanation of BMW Online. I enjoyed using it in my 535d which I had for a week last month.

Thanks Jonathan.

One of the UK members has been speaking to BMW UK's Managing Director, Jim O'Donnell, this week. As a result of this, we hope to improve our communication with the company, with respect to BMW ConnectedDrive & the planning of meets.

If you're planning on visiting the UK next year, then please let me know.

We have some 'fun' plans for UK meets next year & you'd be more than welcome to be our guest.

All the best.

Viv

[tintivilus]

Originally Posted by JSpira

Correct. That will change soon. GSM is coming.

It's about time! I imagine it's a handy cost reduction to use one quad-band GSM TCU for all markets instead of maintaining a separate North American part. Do you know if they're running HSDPA for BMW Online, or if it's all just (E)GPRS?

Also, do you know if the GSM TCU's are also Continental (nee Motorola) products or are they from a different supplier?

Originally Posted by JSpira

No, one unit. They need to do this in GSM because that is what the receiving system supports.

I think I asked an ambiguous question. Are you saying that the TCU is the navigation system for iDrive, or that the TCU and nav system communicate with each other? I'm guessing its the former but I don't have a good feel for the topology of a contemporary iDrive system.

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by tintivilus

It's about time! I imagine it's a handy cost reduction to use one quad-band GSM TCU for all markets instead of maintaining a separate North American part. Do you know if they're running HSDPA for BMW Online, or if it's all just (E)GPRS?

Also, do you know if the GSM TCU's are also Continental (nee Motorola) products or are they from a different supplier?

The part for the BMW NA market hasn't been announced. I suspect we may see 3G capabilities based on what some friends at BMW who are in the right place to tell me have hinted at.

Re the TCU, not sure but I believe it was Conti.

Originally Posted by tintivilus

I think I asked an ambiguous question. Are you saying that the TCU is the navigation system for iDrive, or that the TCU and nav system communicate with each other? I'm guessing its the former but I don't have a good feel for the topology of a contemporary iDrive system.

The TCU is a separate unit that sits on the MOST bus and is a peer to the CCC.