http://www.damajoo.org/phpBB2/albumpic.php?picid=1316.jpg

He told me that every phone should be able to connect via bluetooth and talk, but some advanced features (i.e. contacts on the navi lcd) are supported only on a limited number of models.

First, is this Q1 '05 new and improved from the Bluetooth setup that Mini is offering me right now (my car is waiting at the show room for me to make a dission on this) They claim that it won't even work with my RAZR V3 because it's not on some list. Bluetooth is Bluetooth right???

If this is new and improved will it work with a wider selection of phones? Better features? Is it worth the wait?

I hope someone answers soon I'm supposed to pick up anyday now.

majest owener to be

It only cost me around $85 ($82 car kit from eBay and $3 plugs from Fry's) that now I can simplely press a button and use the voice control from the Sony Z600 to make all my phone calls without holding the phone and dial a number.

I love the new armrest to hold the phone. It is always nice to have everything from the dealers. However, with a fun DIY, you can have same function.

• Research indicates Europeans switch cell phones often (I believe every 18 months on average), and MINI is a European manufacturer. Some of the motivation to constantly switch phones is due to their perception as a status symbol. I think a lot of Mini owners are brand and value conscious (though not in a negative way) and would tend to be inclined to upgrade their phones more often than not.

• If anything, I believe Mini owners as a whole have shown themselves to be (and are marketed as) individuals who like to set themselves apart from the pack; therefore, they would be inclined to be of the early-adopter mindset and switch cell phones often.

*Influencing the first two points is the fact that people can now transfer their cell phone numbers between carriers (at least in the U.S.) makes switching cell phones easier.

• Isolating your perspective buyer's demographic to 3 (albeit somewhat popular) phones.

• From a cost perspective, I would think a more universal approach would keep R&D costs down in the years to come.

Anyway, my $0.02 for what it's worth.

The rumor that Sprint did not want to release BT phones due to increased data usage is only truth in part. Sprint announced in late October that there will be a release to fix the disabled tethering of the Treo 650. They have went on record to a number of media outlets stating that they don't “want to hinder users from using their devices as modems. However, subscribers that use their devices in this way may be subjected to a different rate plan to accommodate this usage.” (http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/wlg/5825)

This will not affect BlueTooth connectivity to your car's internal phone system, and only relates to 3G data transfer.

Sprint is releasing a couple of phones (Trio 650) with crippled Bluetooth support. These phones will usually work with handsfree kits like this one, however will not work in other “profiles” (i.e. as a wireless modem).

Sucky thing is is that those of us who pay for “Unlimited Vision” service through Sprint arn't exactly getting unlimited Vision. We get unlimited Vision on our phone but thats it.

Peter

To answer the man who asked whether having the Bluetooth Car Kit would interfere with his headset, no it won't. Bluetooth isn't like FM where a stronger signal will wash out a weaker one, they'll happily work away.

Owen.